Loma, a citizen of Venus

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WILLIAM R. PERKINS

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Sincerely your friend,

LOAAR

A CITIZEN OF VENUS

HY

WILLIAM WINDSOR, LL. B., Ph. D.

AUTHOR OF

'The Science ot Creation," "Phrenology, Choice of Professions,

Matrimony,'1'' "Great Secrets of Happiness,"

"Health, Wealth and Sunshine," Etc.

ST. PAUL, MINN.

The Windsor & Lewis Publishing Co.

1897

Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1897,

By Prof. William Windsor, LL. B., Ph. D.,

In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C.

All rights reserved.

To the Beautiful, True, and Good
VI omen

Who have appreciated my devotion to their sex,

and who have cheered me with their smiles, encouraged me with their applause,

delighted me with their companionship, and sustained me with their love,

The child of my brain, consecrated to the emancipation of woman

from the enthrallment of Sex Slavery,

Presents an Mircllonnlt (firftlinn.

preface.

Twenty years of active professional experience iu occu-
pations Imaging me into intimate touch with human needs and
a comprehension of the difficulties of supplying those needs
under existing social conditions, combined with a nature yearn-
ing with infinite love for humanity, and especially that part
of it which is represented in womanhood, have produced
within my brain the thoughts which are herein expressed.
Eight of these years were passed at the bar, in an active prac-
tice defending criminals, where 1 learned something of the
causes and results of crime, and, most of all, the monstrous
injustice of the criminal code of the entire civilized world.
The last twelve years have been occupied in visiting every
state of the Union, in the capacity of a lecturer, teacher and
adviser, disseminating the truth as I have comprehended it, and
listening with ears awakened by love and controlled by con-
science, to the cry of the distressed in every department of life.

The more I have studied and observed, the more I have
loved. With the growth of love, came the comprehension of
the evil conditions under which my beloved brothers and sis-
ters in the race are laboring. To comprehend the conditions
was to discover the cause. When the discovery of the cause of
crime, degradation and poverty, disease and deformity was
made and I began to realize that I held the key to a higher
and better order of things in my grasp, I had no choice but to
speak and to write. Had I restrained my voice or my type-
writer, I would have sacrificed my manhood.

I may offend many. So did Jesus and every philosopher
who has dared to speak the truth against existing institutions,
since the world began. With him, I will turn to the scriptures
and read to the multitude as follows:

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me. because he hath anointed
me to fireaeh the dosjicl to the poor: lie hatli sent me to heal
the broken-hearted, to preach delirerance to the captins, ami
recovering of Hght'to the blind, to set <it liberty them that are
bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord."

This book is not "orthodox." It gives interpretations of
passages of scripture that will set the doctors of divinity by
the ears. The aforesaid doctors will probably take satisfaction
in abusing the author, instead of answering the interpreta-
tions. I care very little what they do in the premises, but I
have one word to say to my Christian friends who may feel
shocked at the liberties I have taken with the old romance of
the life of Jesus. It is more reasonable to believe that he was
scientifically translated to Venus, a place known to exist, and
within reach of our physical senses, than it is to believe that
he was miraculously translated to an unknown region, by un-
known causes. To those who may feel offended because I re-
gard him as a man, and not as a monster, as the highest type
of a philosopher, and not as a low type of a god, I will urge
the serious consideration of the fact, that by teaching the
mothers and fathers of this generation how to produce off-
spring which shall be like him, I have rendered to him the
most sincere worship, and the only kind which he himself
would accept.

The central idea in the work, is, that womanhood, wherever
found, whether degraded to satisfy the brutal passions of
ignorant man, or condemned by orthodox philosophy to social
ostracism for a single mistake, is worthy of uplifting help— help
which comes with healing in its hands, with the caress of
compassion on its lip, with the love of humanity in its brain.
I despise that kind of philanthropy which holds out a crumb
to an erring woman, upon an icy finger, at the same time cry-
ing, "I am holier than thou!" When a woman errs she does
so through misdirected love. It is only by love, correctly di-
rected and expressed, that she can be saved.

I sincerely believe that this work contains the crude an-
nouncement of principles by which a time civilization can be
reached. The four great articles of the code of Gallheim are
submitted as a statement of these principles, and I anxiously
await their analysis by competent critics. If what I have
written may be the means of making one human life happier,
if it may give a single impetus to the advancing wave of
civilization, if it may solve one problem in the direction of
relieving aching hearts and throbbing brains, the joy of the
author will be complete.

Sincerely your friend,

WILIAM WINDSOR.

%n ^cknotoUftgment-

The work contained in the following pages, together with
the philosophy expressed therein, is original with the author,
with the following exception.

The extraordinary doctrines in relation to astronomy, and
the fundamental principles of electricity and magnetism, gravi-
tation and electrical receptivity which are declared by Loma,
were originally discovered and published by Mr. Samuel T.
Fowler of Philadelphia, Pa., in a remarkable little work en-
titled "Genetics," and a small pamphlet entitled, "The Recon-
structionist," both of which were published by him about the
year 1883. In these works the doctrines concerning these sub-
jects which I have elaborated and put into the mouth of Loma,
were expressed in such a condensed form that nearly every-
body who has attempted their study has given it up in disgust
and regarded the work as the idle attempts of a lunatic to ex-
press something of which he knew nothing. These works were
produced by Mr. Fowler, after incredible labor, and printed
by him, with a small pi'inting press, he himself setting the
type. It is a sad commentary on the industrial system of this
age, that the brilliant and scholarly attainments of this prince
of philosophers should have been almost lost to the world
through lack of appreciation. Much of his work has perished
and he himself languished and died in poverty, regarded by
relatives who possessed more wealth of property and less of
intelligence as an inferior member of the family. The truth
is that he possessed a mind so deep in its philosophical facul-
ties, and went so far beyond the confines of human knowl-
edge, that few persons have the ability to understand his writ-
ings at all. I confess that I have pondered over some of his
sentences a whole week before I fully comprehended their
tremendous signficauce. Only a glimpse of his sublime phil-
osophy is given in this work, but enough is said to prove the
true philosophy of genesis, to show the untenableucss of the

coinmouly accepted theories of the origin of planets and stars,
together with the mistake which exists in the Newtonian
theory of gravitation and the absurdities of the commonly
accepted theories of astronomers in relation to the origin of
light and heat.

In this connection I desire also to express my obligation to
my personal friend, Mr. Joseph P. Steiner of Washington, D.
C, who enjoyed the friendship of Mr. Fowler, for his persistent
efforts in getting me to study the above mentioned works, and
for material help in unraveling some of the hardest problems.

It is my intention to develop this philosophy to the fullest
extent of my own capabilities,, and to this end I have enlisted
the aid of many bright intelligences in discussion and criticism
of my presentation of it. I shall be pleased to welcome any
adverse criticism of any proposition embraced in the present
work or those which may follow it.

Sincerely your friend,

WILLIAM WINDSOR.

r o c in .

«Tf|p (Coming tiny.

There is coming a bright to-rnorrow.

And the time is hastening on.
When the burdens of those who sorrow

Shall fall and a glad new song
Shall till the sad world with music,

And the listening air shall ring
With the peean of love triumphant

And the end of unholy things.

No more shall the usurer strangle

The hope of the toiler brave,
No more shall the haughty nabob

Exult o'er his cringing slave;
No more shall women and children

In hovels and rags be found.
But Equal Rights shall exteud to all,

And virtue and peace abound.

No more shall the tongue be silenced

Which would speak for human weal;
No longer shall men be licensed

To murder and rob and steal,
To murder the hapless victim

Of the thirst for poisoned rum,
And steal from his wife and children

Their birthright to their home.

No more in the streets of the city

Shall children be crying for bread.
And never shall erring brothers •

To dungeons and shackles be led.
And never a gallows or prison

Be reared to insult the free air,
To tell of the cruel unreason,

Which we of the present must bear.

Oh, never in that bright to-morrow.

When the sunlight of love shall be known.
Shall woman in travail and sorrow,

Maternity bear with a groan;
But reason and knowledge combining.

With science to bless and preserve,
Shall crown her a queen in her gladness.

And love as her vassal shall serve.

And never in that fair morning

Shall virtue's trust be betrayed,
And never the world's deep scorning

Toward helplessness be displayed;
But with help for the erring sister.

And love for the fallen man,
The reign of justice will soon reveal

A better and wiser plan.

William Windsor.

Contents*

Page.

Ciiap. I. The Rescue, 1

Chap. II. A Remarkable Guest, 13

Chap. III. The Comforter, 23

Chap. IV. The Citizen of Venus 35

Chap. V. The Mission of Loina 55

Chap. VI. The Annunciation, 69

Chap. VII. Myrtle's First Lesson 83

Chap. VIII. New Light on the Bible 99

Chap. IX. An Unexpected Meeting 115

Chap. X. The Philosophy of Love, .... 131

Chap. XL A Lesson in Ethics 149

Chap. XII. Reconciliation, 161

Chap. XIII. The Code of Gallheim 177

Chap. XIV. The Labor Problem, . . . . • . .189

Chap. XV. The New Education, 205

Chap. XVI. Social and Sexual Ethics. . . . .223

Chap. XVII. Commerce and Wealth, 245

Chap. XVIII. Immoralities of Christianity, . . . 265

Chap. XIX. The Religion of Love, 285

Chap. XX. The Reign of Justice, ... .311

Chap. XXL Four Great Mistakes Corrected. . . . 331

Chap. XXII. The Nativity 359

Ciiap. XXIII. Marriage under the New Civilization. 363

Chap. XXIV. The Ascension, 391

Scientific Phrenology, 401

LOMA,

A CITIZEN OF VENUS.

CHAPTER I.

THE RESCUE.

"One more unfortunate!
Weary (if breath,
Rashly import unate— "

"O God, forgive me!"

A wail of unutterable sorrow, a cry, a sob, two white
hands convulsively clasped above a head of classical
outline, from which a wealth of disheveled hair
streamed back and glistened in the moonlight, show-
ing a golden sheen more beautiful than the rays which
for a moment caressed it, — a quick movement of a lithe,
sinuous figure, and then the heavy splash of a body
falling into the dark waters of the lake, which seemed
to ripple with demoniac laughter in exultation over
it s prey.

At the foot of Van Buren street in the city of Chicago
a long pier extends out into the body of Lake Michi-
gan, which is the popular landing of excursion steam-
ers. On the night of the third of September, L895, Dr.

(i)

2 LOMA,

Edward Bell, physician and scientist, had strolled out
on this pier for two reasons: first, because he enjoyed
a walk in solitude with the accompanying pleasures of
moonlight and a lake breeze; and, secondly, because
on this particular night, at 11 o'clock, an eclipse of the
moon took place, and the doctor, being an enthusiastic
amateur astronomer, wished to have the privilege of
contemplating the phenomena in a place which was
sure to be free from interruption at that hour. In one
hand he carried a small tripod, and over his shoulders
was suspended a case, which contained a three-inch re-
fracting telescope. The doctor himself was enveloped
in a long mackintosh which might serve as a protection
against too cool a breeze, which in the latitude of Chi-
cago is not uncommon, and the possibility of a shower
which certain dark clouds on the western horizon indi-
cated as a possible termination of his astronomical
observations.

Doctor Bell had reached the extreme outer edge of
the pier on the eastern side and was contemplating the
splendid orb of the earth's satellite, when his attention
was arrested by the exclamation above noted, and turn-
ing quickly to the other side of the pier he was just in
time to see the figure of a woman poise for a moment
on the edge, and then take the fatal plunge. The doc-
tor was a man of quick perception, and in the moment
which elapsed betwTeen the exclamation and the splash,
which told that the woman had accomplished her pur-
pose, his quick professional judgment had compre-
hended the situation. Being accustomed to act prompt-

A CITIZEN OP VENUS. 3

ly in emergencies, his action in this case was superb.
An athlete and swimmer by education, and a lover of
mankind in general and womankind in particular, by
nature, it was impossible that he should hesitate. It
was the work of one movement of his left arm to dis-
engage himself from his mackintosh and telescope,
which fell on the pier unheeded, and, while his power-
ful and graceful limbs carried him in two bounds to
the spot where the woman stood a moment before, his
coat and vest fell from his person, and he poised him-
self upon the edge of the pier waiting for the reappear-
ance of the woman upon the surface, when he could
make sure of her rescue.

As he stood in the attitude of a diver, waiting for the
opportune moment, an exclamation of astonishment
escaped him, followed by another of intense interest.
As he gazed into the water of the lake, at that point
in the shadow of the pier, he saw that it was illumi-
nated by a glow as if a powerful arc light were burning
beneath the surface of the water. In this glow he plain-
ly distinguished the figure of the woman, rising and
struggling in the water, but just as he was about to
dive after her, another actor appeared upon the scene.
This was the perfectly nude figure of a man, darting
through the water with the rapidity and accuracy of a
fish. Indeed, his actions were so rapid that for a mo-
ment Doctor Cell believed that the woman had been at-
tacked by some species of shark. P>ut when the stran-
ger clasped her in his arms and rose to the surface,
turning toward the pier on which he stood, with the

4 LOMA,

appreciation which true manhood always gives to the
brave action of another, the doctor forgot everything
in his enthusiasm over the rescue. In a moment he
was down on the pier at full length, stretching his
arms toward the rescuer and his quarry at the edge.

"Bravo! Bravo I Bring her along! Steady. Brace
yourself against that post and I'll pull her up. That's
good. Excuse me a moment, ma'am, until I lend a
hand to our friend here. Now, sir! Ah, here we are,
safe and sound. Now for the patient !"

The reactions of the human mind are a curious study
in themselves. As Doctor Bell bent over the prostrate
form of the half-strangled woman, who a moment be-
fore had courted death at her own volition, she threw
her arms around his neck in the desperation of fear and
cried out, "Oh, save me! save me! Don't let me drown!"

"Bless you, my dear girl, we have no such intention.
But I am afraid if it had not been for our worthy friend
here, you might have succeeded better — or worse."

Having satisfied himself that his patient was unin-
jured except by fright, which promised nothing worse
than hysterical demonstrations, the doctor rose to his
feet, resumed his coat and vest and extended his
hand in congratulation to the rescuer, who had
remained in dignified contemplation of the situation.
As his hand met that of the stranger, the physician
became conscious of a thrill which pervaded his
entire being. A delicious sense of warmth and
an indefinable magnetism was conveyed in the touch
of the stranger's hand, which for a moment be-

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 5

wildered the senses of the astute and learned scientist.
It was an experience which left a never-to-be-forgotten
impression, and for years afterward Doctor Bell found
it a profitable study to analyze his feelings of that
moment. It seemed to him as though the contact of
the hand conveyed to him a flash of light in which were
blended the colors of the rainbow, and at the same time
he became distinctly conscious of a delicious sensation
of taste, and au exquisite odor which seemed to ema-
nate from the body of the stranger. We have already
remarked that the doctor was a man of quick per-
ception. His naturally acute faculties had been trained
by a long course of professional observation, and the
peculiarities of this man, who had so miraculously
appeared in the bosom of Lake Michigan, impressed
him profoundly. Even in the uncertain light of the
shaded pier, on which they were standing, the doctor
did not fail to note that the stranger possessed a figure
of faultless proportions, above the medium height, sur-
mounted by a massive head, made still more imposing
by a crown of long, curly hair which seemed to glow
with a peculiar luminosity which to some extent per-
vaded the entire body of the man.

"By George, sir, that was well done! It was lucky
for our misguided young friend here that you were just
where you were, and so well prepared for the emer-
gency. You are the most magnificent swimmer I ever
saw. But I do not understand what you were doing
with that elect lie light under the water. Are you a
professional diver?"

6 LOMA,

And the doctor stepped to the edge of the pier and
looked into the water from which the two persons had
just emerged. It was dark and no trace of the lu-
minous glow was visible. Realizing, however, that he
still had duties to perform, the doctor lost no time in
speculation, but again addressed himself to his patient
who was sitting upon the floor of the pier sobbing con-
vulsively.

"Come, my dear girl, cheer up," he said, with that
finely modulated tone of sympathetic encouragement
which long practice in dealing with unfortunates of
every description had made a part of his professional
equipment. "You must let me take you away from
here, and, after you have had proper attention, we will
take you to your friends."

"I have no friends," sobbed the girl, as she buried
her face in the folds of her dress, which was still drip-
ping with the water of the lake.

"Tut! tut! that's another one of your mistakes. You
have two good friends, right here on this pier, one of
whom has risked his life for you within the last five
minutes, and thereby prevented the other from doing
the same thing. You let me manage this business for
you, for the present, and I'll warrant that to-morrow
will be one of the brightest days of your life. But you,
sir," said the doctor, turning to the stranger, "I would
like to have you accompany me to my residence with
this young lady, and when we have disposed of her in a
comfortable manner, I should like to cultivate your ac-
quaintance further."

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 7

Up to this point the stranger had not spoken. He
had watched the rapid and professional actions of the
physician With dignified and active interest, but had
not moved from the position he had taken when he had
first stepped upon the pier. Now, in answer to this
direct and courteous address, he made an exceedingly
graceful movement with both hands, a gesture which
expressed complaisance, kindness and respect, inclined
his head slightly forward, and said:

"I am at your service."

The effect of his voice upon the physician was as
startling as his touch had been a moment before. The
tone was deep, rich and musical, and could only be com-
pared to the notes of perfectly attuned bells. The doc-
tor, in addition to his other accomplishments, was a
critical musician, and the quality of the stranger's voice
impressed him as deeply as his other peculiarities had
already. He delighted in adventure, and the fact that
he was dealing with an extraordinary person and an
unfortunate woman, under very peculiar circumstances,
gave him unusual zest in the problems of the moment.
One thing which now impressed him was the fact that
this remarkable man was standing in the presence of
a female, in a state of perfect nudity, and yet he had
made no effort to conceal his person or to procure his
clothing. On the contrary, he could not have been more
self-possessed and dignified if he had been arrayed in
kingly robes in (he highest court of royally. In fad
the superb dignity of the man was Ids most noticeable
characteristic. The physician had noticed this, bin lie

8 LOMA,

was too well versed in dealing with people of peculiar
habits to allow it to influence his conduct. Turning to
the stranger, he said:

"We must take this girl to my house at once, where
she can have attention. If you will get into your cloth-
ing as quickly as possible, we will go to the end of the
pier where we can get a cab."

"I have no clothing," said the stranger quietly, but in
a tone which carried the conviction that he meant what
he said.

Doctor Bell regarded the man fixedly for a moment
and then muttered, "The deuce you haven't! Well,
this is no time to ask questions. Here, you can wear
my mackintosh, and when we have gotten to my house
it will be time enough to arrange matters. Jiy George!
I have broken my telescope, but I guess I won't be
likely to be interested in any eclipse to-night. There,
put this mackintosh on aud nobody will know or care,
at this time of night, whether you are dressed or not.
Now, my dear, we will take you to better quarters, and
I will introduce you to the best woman on earth, in the
person of my mother, who will see that you are com-
fortable in both mind and body, in short order."

Slipping his telescope case once more orer his
shoulder, with a rattle which told of broken glass in
the interior, and taking the tripod in one hand, the
doctor supported the light figure of the girl with one
arm, while the stranger supported her on the other
side. As for the girl herself, she allowed the two men
to carry her unresistingly, and barely supported herself

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 9

011 her feet. The extreme 1 elision of her nervous sys-
tem had given way, and was succeeded by a collapse
which almost amounted to stupor.

Arriving at the end of the pier, the doctor hailed a
cab, and placing his guests within spoke to the driver:

"Drive quickly to No. , Michigan avenue."

The man bowed and closed the door of the cab after
the doctor, who had stepped lightly inside as he gave
the order. In a moment they were rattling over the
pavement, and in a few minutes the cab stopped before
one of the elegant residences which line the popular
thoroughfare which the doctor had mentioned.

Handing the driver his fee, the doctor carried his
patient up the broad flight of stone steps which led to
the front entrance. Touching a button, the call was
instantly answered by a young maid servant, whose
face expressed no surprise as she admitted the doctor
and his companions.

"Has your mistress retired?" asked the doctor, in a
low tone.

"Yes, sir; she has been asleep about an hour."

"Call her quietly, and tell her that an emergency
case requires her attention, and then attend me in the
east bedroom."

Turning to the stranger, the doctor said, with easy
courtesy:

"My dear sir, if you will enter this room on the left,
you will find every provision for your temporary com-
fort, and in the meantime you will excuse me, while I
attend to the wants of the one in which we have a com-

10 LOMA,

mon interest. As soon as she is provided for, I will
join you."

The stranger bowed and entered the apartment indi-
cated. The doctor closed the door, and picking up the
figure of the girl as though she were an infant, bore her
up a broad stairway into a spacious apartment on the
second floor, where he was joined by the maid, who re-
ported that her mistress would attend at once. The
doctor deposited his patient upon a divan, and said :

"Undress this lady and place her in bed. Give her
a sponge bath and one ounce of this cordial, and leave
the rest to my mother."

Having thus disposed of the case, the physician
turned and left the room. At the threshold he en-
countered a sweet-faced, elderly lady, in a lace cap and
satin wrapper, who greeted him with a peculiar smile.

"I thought you went out to view the eclipse, Edward,"
she said.

"So I did, mother dear, but there are eclipses and
eclipses. Sometimes it is the moon, and sometimes a
human life which is eclipsed. Let us hope that in the
present cases both are only temporary. Come away a
moment and let me tell you."

In a few brief words the doctor acquainted his moth-
er with the facts which are already known to the read-
er. At the conclusion of his statement, his mother took
his face in her hands and imprinted a kiss upon his
bearded lips.

"This adventure is 'very characteristic of my boy,"
she said, with motherly pride. "I will see that the

A CITIZEN OK VENUS. 11

dear girl is comforted, while you attend to the cour-
tesies that are due to your extraordinary guest in the
mackintosh." Then a mutual smile was exchanged be-
tween the mother and son, a smile suggestive of every-
thing that is good, benevolent, helpful and sympathetic.
A keen observer would have noticed that there was a
remarkable similarity in the expression of the two faces,
and that the son had inherited all of the mental and
physical peculiarities of the mother. And as the good
lady proceeded to the guest chamber, the doctor re-
turned to the library, where the stranger awaited him,
conscious that his patient would receive every minis-
tration which human sympathy could devise, when
prompted by the purest and best of motives.

CHAPTER II.

A REMARKABLE GUEST.

"Be not forgetful to entertain strangers; for thereby some
have entertained angels unawares."

When Doctor Bell returned to the library, into which
he had ushered his strange guest, he found that gentle-
man still arrayed in his mackintosh, reclining in one
of the easy chairs, and intently regarding a handsome
oil painting which was suspended above the mantel.
On the entrance of the doctor, however, he arose and
made one of his characteristic gestures, which, being
executed with inimitable grace and dignity, expressed
so much of genuine sincerity, friendship and gracious*
ness that it carried a conviction of the excellent breed-
ing of the man and inspired a confidence which was
irresistible. Doctor Bell was in the best sense of the
word, a man of the world, and prided himself on his
knowledge of human nature, and his professional ex-
perience had sharpened his natural perception to an
acute degree. He realized that he was dealing with
an extraordinary character, and yet it was with the
utmost confidence in the integrity of his guest that he
addressed him.

"After the remarkable occurrence of this evening, sir,
in which we have both played a part, it may not be

(13)

14 LOMA,

presumptuous if I express the fact that i am very much
interested in you. In the excitement of the adventure,
we have neglected to introduce ourselves. I am Dr.
Edward Bell, and the house which you honor with your
presence is my residence."

The stranger, in acknowledgment, extended both
hands to the doctor, who clasped them in his own.
Again that wonderful thrill of magnetic effect passed
through the doctor's frame, and the sensations of ex-
quisite odor and taste assailed his senses. At the same
time he was distinctly conscious of the luminous glow
which had attracted his attention on the pier and
which he was now certain was an emanation from
the remarkable person of his guest.

"Your name is very'familiar to me, doctor, although
this is the first time I have had the privilege of a per-
sonal meeting. But I have looked forward to this mo-
ment witb great happiness for many years. My name
is Loma."

"Of Chicago?"

"No, sir," said Loma, with a smile of exquisite di-
plomacy, "of quite another country. You will excuse
me, doctor, if I postpone naming my residence to you
to-night. I am exhausted with the fatigue of a long
journey, but to-morrow, after a good night's sleep and
the enjoyment of your hospitality, I shall be able to give
you a better account of myself. In the meantime let
me ask,« is there any reason why I should retain the
use of this garment?"

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 15

"Certainly not," replied the doctor; " in lliis room we
will not be disturbed, and I beg that you will make
yourself perfectly at home. This bedroom is at your
disposal," he continued, opening the door of a sumptu-
ously furnished chamber adjoining the library, "and
here you will find a bathroom and all of the conven-
iences you require. In the morning I will place my
valet and my wardrobe at your disposal, for temporary
purposes, and after that your requirements in the mat-
ter of clothing will be attended to. To-night you may
wear this robe," talcing an elegantly embroidered gar-
ment of the finest silk from a closet, "and while you are
bathing, permit me to order some refreshments. What
would you like to eat?"

"If it is convenient, doctor, a bunch of grapes and a
glass of cold water will be all I require to-night."'

"I will get them myself, so that our privacy will not
be disturbed," said the doctor; and leaving the room he
immediately returned, bearing a large silver basket
filled with the choicest Concord grapes and a pitcher of
water.

"These grapes," said the doctor, with the pride of a
horticulturist, "were raised on my farm, near Elgin, in
this state, and this wrater is shipped to me daily from
the famous Waukesha springs in Wisconsin. I hope
you will find both as refreshing as the one is luscious
and the other is pure."

Placing the fruit and water upon a table in the center
of the room he had just assigned to his guest, the doc-
tor returned to the library, where Loina, who had di-

16 LOMA,

vested himself of the mackintosh, was reclining at his
ease upon one of the luxurious divans which adorned
the room. For the first time the doctor had an oppor-
tunity of critically inspecting the personality of the re
markable man he was entertaining.

Loma, reclining in an easy attitude upon the divan,
presented a picture of classic beauty. We have al-
ready noted that his figure was of faultless proportions,
but in the electric light of the library the doctor, who
was an enthusiastic student of physical culture, noted
his splendid development with admiration he could not
conceal. Loma noticed it, and said with a smile:

"I know you consider me something of a curiosity,
doctor, and I will not consider it an impertinence if
you subject me to as much scrutiny as your professional
curiosity may dictate. To-morrow, after I have rested,
I will also aid you with as much information as I my-
self possess."

Loma was indeed a magnificent specimen of man-
hood. He was evidently about thirty-five years of age,
and no trace of decay or breaking down of the tissues
was perceptible in any part of his person. His height
was within a fraction of an inch of six feet, and his
weight about one hundred and ninety pounds. His
build was athletic, and the rounded perfection of every
muscle gave evidence of systematic and intelligent cul
ture. His head, however, was the most remarkable
part of his person, and while the general result of his
appearance was that of a graceful and powerful man,
yet it was his head which impressed the observer with

A CITIZEN OF VENTS. !7

his kingly dignity. The features of the face were har-
monious and classic, the mouth, which was only par-
tially concealed by a full beard, especially possessing
curves which gave it a remarkable sweetness ami versa1
tility of expression. The lips were full and red, the
nose straight and Grecian in outline; the eves were
large, blue in color and wide apart, and above these
rose a broad, high forehead, across which the skin was
tightly and smoothly drawn, and the doctor noticed
that it shone like polished ivory. The rest of his head
was crowned with a wealth of dark brown, curly hair,
which hung down to his shoulders and gave him a
peculiar graciousness of appearance, and the doctor
noticed that this particular feature was never without
some traces of the magnetic glow which was one of the
remarkable peculiarities of the man. The head was
wide at the base of the brain, and the whole expression
of the personality was that of great force and courage,
held under complete control. Being an ardent devotee
of Phrenology, the doctor's curiosity was not satisfied
until he had taken the measurements of Loma's head
with a tape measure which he took from his vest pocket.
Adjusting the tape to the base of the brain, he noted
that it measured twenty-four inches in basilar circum-
ference, and a measurement across the crown registered
sixteen inches. But what most impressed him was the
fact that the head was complete. Passing his hand
from the altitudinous crown to the massive occiput,
and comparing the frontal developments with l he re-
mainder, the doctor was obliged to confess to himself
2

18 LOMA,

that lie could not say that any part of the head was
deficient in development.

Loma submitted to this critical inspection with smil-
ing complaisance. At its conclusion, the doctor said:

"You are the most perfect specimen of manhood it
has been my good fortune to meet. But you are tired
and need rest, so I will give you my conclusions, at
length, at another time. Good night, sir, and may your
sleep be as pleasant and restful as the events of this
night have been exciting. When you awake in the
morning, and are ready to communicate with me, touch
the bell button in your room, and I will have the serv-
ant summon me."

Loma had stepped into the bedroom and now stood
facing the door looking into the library. The doctor,
looking toward him, saw him make another of his im-
pressive gestures, saw the room illuminated for a sec-
ond with the warm light of the magnetic glow, heard
him pronounce the words "Good night," in his peculiar,
rich, bell-like voice, and then the door was softly closed
and he was alone.

Left to himself, the doctor placed himself in one of
the easy chairs and became absorbed in deep medita-
tion. The events of the evening had all been of such
an extraordinary character that he was somewhat be-
wildered. The attempted suicide and his benevolent
attentions to an unfortunate woman, he would have
treated as very ordinary occurrences, for Doctor Bell
was a philanthropist of the highest type, and hundreds
of unfortunate men and women in the great city in

A CITIZEN OF VENUS.

19

which he resided spoke his name with reverence and
gratitude. But the exciting circumstances of the res-
cue and the remarkable character of the rescuer im-
pressed him profoundly. Had he been a believer in
supernatural agencies, he might well have considered
his guest in the light of an angel. But Doctor Bell was
a philosopher and a reasoner, and long training in
scientific habits of thought had enabled him to look
for a natural cause for every phenomenon, no matter
how surprising its manifestations might be. He had
inherited his scientific proclivities through several an-
cestors. His mother was a physician and the daughter
of a celebrated surgeon. His father had amassed a
handsome fortune in the practice of law in Chicago,
and had died just as his son had obtained his diploma.
Under the wise direction and assistance of his mother,
Doctor Bell had, in a few short years, reached the goal
of his ambition, and found himself in the possession of
one of the most lucrative practices in the metropolis
of the West. The rise in Chicago real estate had more
than quadrupled the fortune left by his father, and at
the time of our narrative begins the young physician, at
thirty years of age, found himself in possession of
ample means to gratify all of his ambitious desires, as
far as money, property and social position could aid
him. Unlike most rich, young and ambitious men, his
prosperity had not spoiled him. In early youth his
mother had instilled into his mind the broadest princi-
ples of humanitarianism, justice and philanthropy, and

she had lived to see these principles bear the sweet

20 LOMA,

fruits of a multitude of noble deeds. She had, also,
from the moment of his conception, impressed him with
a love for knowledge. In this, also, she was not disap-
pointed. He had distinguished himself in college, was
the valedictorian of his class at the University of Michi-
gan, and received first honors at Rush Medical College,
Chicago, in which he was now an honored member of
the faculty. He had distinguished himself in the med-
ical societies of the state, and was regarded as one of
the highest authorities in all departments of medical
jurisprudence, to which he had devoted special atten-
tion. He was well versed in the intricacies of Latin
and Greek, and spoke English, French and German
with equal facility.

In personal appearance, Doctor Bell was univer-
sally considered a handsome man. In height he
was slightly above the medium; his shoulders were
broad, his body compact, and indicative of excellent
vitality and endurance. His head was large and well
poised upon a strong, thick neck. A careful observer
would have seen that it was unusually wide between
the ears and in the region back of the ears. His fore-
head was smooth and symmetrical in outline and wide
at the top. His hair was cut short and was of a rich
chestnut brown, and his full and well-trimmed beard
was nearly of the same color, but somewhat more
tinged with red. His eyes were brown, and were
shaded by very large and prominent eyebrows, and
when he looked at a person there was a peculiar steadi-
ness and penetration in his gaze, which was sometimes

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 21

uncomfortably impressive, unless the person was well
able to stand the scrutiny. His voice was pleasant,
sympathetic and mellow, but it possessed a quality
which conveyed the impression that it could be harsh
if occasion demanded. Altogether, Doctor Bell was a
very complete specimen of the highest type of Ameri-
can, nineteenth century civilization.

He remained in meditation about a quarter of an
hour, when having reviewed all of the circumstances
of the evening's adventure, and not being able to satis-
factorily account for all of the peculiarities of his guest,
like the philosopher that he was, he dismissed the mat-
ter from his mind, for the time being, and seeking his
bedroom was soon lost in the delicious slumber which
conies to the innocent, rirtuous and just man, who
reposes in the consciousness of having performed his
whole duty for that day.

CHAPTER III.

THE COMFORTER.

"For I was a stranger and ye took me in. * * * Verily I
say unto you. inasmuch as ye did it unto one of the least of
these, my brethren, ye did it unto me."

When Mrs. Bell entered the room into which her son
had carried his patient, she found the well-trained
maid servant had undressed the young- woman and was
engaged in administering the sponge bath which the
doctor had prescribed. The patient lay upon the lux-
uriously furnished bed with her eyes closed, and evi-
dently submitted to the kind ministrations of the at-
tendant in a condition of extreme collapse of all will
power. When the maid had finished the bath and had
administered the cordial, which the woman received
without opening her eyes, she discreetly and noise-
lessly withdrew and left Mrs. Bell by the bedside.

Fifty years of experience in human affairs, and a
complete medical education, had made Mrs. Bell fully
equal to any occasion where combined skill and sym-
pathy w7ere required. In an eminent degree she blended
the qualities of an educated and practical philanthropist
with those of an affectionate mother and sincere friend.
The unfortunate and the oppressed found in her a ready
assistant, but she was seldom imposed upon by those

(23)

24 » LOMA,

who appealed to her from unworthy motives. Her
eyes were large, brown, and handsome in expression,
with a peculiar questioning look in them at times,
which seemed to compel a truthful answer. Wavy
brown hair, slightly tinged with gray, was combed back
from a forehead which was very high for its breadth.
In fact, her forehead would have been called narrow by
a superficial observer, but the remarkable altitude was
largely responsible for this impression. Her face was
open, frank and sincere, but there were traces of suffer-
ing in the lines of the mouth, as there was ample evi-
dence of fortitude to bear it and resolution to conquer
difficulties.

Such was the face which the unfortunate woman
beheld when she opened her eyes, after a cool hand had
been laid upon her forehead and a sweet and sympa-
thetic voice had spoken :

"My dear child, how do you feel now ?"

For an answer, the eyes closed again, and a tear fell
from each upon the pillow. The sensitive lips quivered
and sobs shook the slight frame under the rich folds
of the elegant embroidered counterpane. Mrs. Bell,
looking into the face of her charge, saw that she was
young and beautiful. The face was oval and harmoni-
ous in its outline, and the pillow was covered with a
wealth of golden hair which formed an exquisite frame
for the lovely picture. A hand which would have in-
spired a sculptor lay motionless outside the cover. It
was small, and the fingers were tapering, and the skin
was as fine grained as silk. Yearning with infinite

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 25

compassion toward the unhappy girl, the philanthro-
pist took the hand and, holding it tenderly, bent
over and impressed a motherly kiss upon the feverish
brow of her charge. Again the young girl sobbed con-
vulsively.

"There, my dear child, do not grieve so. You have
had trouble, and it has been hard to bear, but it will
all come right, if you will be brave and hopeful. You
are with friends now who will help you out of all
difficulties, and I want you to realize it and compose
yourself."

"Oh, madam, you have all been so kind to me. May
God bless you all for your goodness; but I must go
away, I cannot stay here/'

"My poor child, you are hysterical. You must com-
pose yourself and let me help you out of all your
troubles." And again the good woman pressed a kiss
upon the brow of the sobbing girl.

"Oh, madam, do not kiss me. You do not know
what I am or you would not touch me with your lips.
You would turn away from me if you knew, as they
all did. Oh, why did I not die in the lake. Oh, let
me go away and die. It is the only place for such as I.
Oh, I want to go to my mother. But she is in heaven,
and they will not let me come there, either. Oh, God!
why was I born?"

The experienced perception of Mrs. Bell did not mid
any more elaborate explanation of the case before her.
But as the unhappy and desperate girl buried her face
in the pillow and sobbed out her grief, an observer

26 LOMA,

would have been interested in the expressions which
played over the face of the philanthropist. First, her
eyes filled with tears, and for a moment her hand
passed caressingly and soothingly over the head of the
girl, while she softly murmured, "Poor, innocent, mis-
guided, persecuted darling." Suddenly she clasped her
hands and rose from her seat and for a few moments
walked the room rapidly, while an expression of fierce,
energetic resolution pervaded her entire manner. Then
she paused, and raising her eyes to the ceiling, stretched
out her hands and in a low but intense tone uttered
the words, "How long, oh eternal Truth, will you be
disregarded! How long must the good and the beauti-
ful be trampled upon by selfish prejudice!"

Soon, however, she had composed herself and ap-
proached the bedside. For a moment she paused and
gazed upon the fair young form before her, with an ex-
pression of infinite tenderness and love. All traces of
her recent emotion had disappeared when she again
began to caress the golden head. Gently inserting one
hand between the pillow and the face of her charge,
she turned and raised the girl's head until the blue
eyes opened and met her own.

Something in the look of unutterable love with which
the philanthropist regarded her penetrated the con-
fused perception of the girl, for she caught the hand
which pressed her cheek in her own and covered it
with kisses.

"Oh, you look like my mother. She would not turn
away from me if she were here, and you do not, al-

A CITIZEN OK VENUS.

27

though I have told you I am bad. Oh, I did not mean
to be bad! I did not know. They never told me.
Oh, do not drive me away from you! I will do any-
thing you say. I will be your slave if you will only
show me how to be good !"

"My poor, little, persecuted darling," said Mrs. Bell,
as she continued to caress her charge, "who told you
that you were bad?"

"They did, my aunt and uncle, with whom I lived.
They found it out last Sunday, and they told me that
I was a bad woman and that they would never speak
to me again, and they made me leave their house. My
aunt said I had disgraced them, and my uncle said I
was only lit for hell, and the quicker I went there the
better. Oh, it was awful! I went to my Aunt Mary's,
but my uncle came there and said if she gave me a home
he would never speak to her again, and as he supports
her, I had to leave there too. Then I tried to get work,
but I never did anything of that kind, and people would
ask for references, and I could not give any, and I was
so excited and crying that they would not help me."

"My poor girl!"

"I slept in a doorway Sunday night, and in the morn-
ing the man came and ordered me out and said he would
get a policeman to take me to the station house. I
walked the streets all day Monday, and last night I did
not sleep at all, but I stayed in the doorway part of the
night. This morning, as I was walking down Stale
street. 1 saw a man's name on a sign, thai I knew 1 had
met at my uncle's Bible class in Sunday-school. I went

28 LOMA.

into his office and asked for him, and told him my uncle
had turned me away, and asked him if there was any
place I could go where Christian people helped a girl
in such cases. He said there was, but that I need not
go to such a place, but that I could stay with him. I
asked him what he meant, and he took hold of me and
tried to kiss me, and do something else which I felt was
wrong, and I ran out of the office. When I left my
uncle's house, I only had a dollar in my pocket, and I
spent that for something to eat, and it was all gone
this morning, and I was so tired and hungry, and every-
body was against me, and I could not stand it to stay
on the streets another night, and I went out on the
pier and tried to end it all. I jumped into the lake,
and then somebody pulled me out, and the gentlemen
brought me here. Oh, you are so good and kind."

More than one tear had fallen during this recital,
from the overflowing eyes of good, motherly Mrs. Bell.
Now she bent over the pillow and covered the face of
the girl with kisses, while her tears flowed freely. The
girl threw her arms around her neck and kissed her in
response, saying, "Oh, you are so good, so kind ; you are
just like my mother."

"Was your mother a Christian?"

"I do not know. She died when I was ten years old,
before I knew much about such things. But I remem-
ber my uncle quarreled with her once, because she said
that she believed more in doing good than in talking
so much about it."

"Your uncle is a Christian?"

A CITIZEN OP VENUS. 29

"Oh, yes; he is a member of the Presbyterian Church,
and teaches a large class in the Sunday-school. My
aunt is also a teacher in the Sunday-school and is presi-
dent of the missionary society. That was one thing
my aunt said, that 1 had disgraced them, and unless I
was driven out none of their fashionable acquaintances
would call, and she could not be reelected president
of the missionary society.1'

Mrs. Bell's lip curled for a moment, and again the
expression of a fierce resolution gleamed in her eyes.
But it gave way in a moment to her habitual expression
of tender compassion, as she spoke to the girl.

"Listen, my dear. If I tell you that I am your friend,
that I love you as I would my own daughter, and that
I will help you in every way, will you believe me and
trust me, and do as I tell you in all things?"

"Oh, madam, will you? I will do anything you say.
I could trust you as I would my mother," and the girl
placed her hand in Mrs. Bell's and looked appealiugly
into her face.

"That's a dear, sensible, good girl. Now listen. First
of all, you must realize that you are not bad. That
is a horrible, ignorant mistake. Your uncle is blinded
by a false philosophy, and will live to regret his course
toward you with bitter remorse. So will your aunt.
You shall stay with me and be my daughter, and I will
help you out of all your trouble. I am a physician, and
my sou who brought you here is a physician and one
of the best in the world. Now, put your arms around
my neck and kiss me, and then go to sleep, unless you
feel that vou would like to have some nourishment."

30 LOMA,

"I could not eat anything now," said the girl, as she
disengaged her arms from the neck of her benefactor,
while a heavenly smile illumined her features. "I am
too happy. This seems like heaven. I will believe it
is and go to sleep and dream of you and my mother."

Slowly the fringed curtains drooped over the blue
eyes, and the lips parted in a smile of sweet rest from
pain and sorrow. Mrs. Bell sat by the bedside until the
regular breathing of her patient told that her slumber
was complete. Then she arose and stood for a moment
by the bedside with her eyes upraised and her hands
extended as if in prayer. Her lips moved, but no
sound disturbed the sleeper. For a moment she stood
in an attitude of invocation, then she turned toward
the sleeping girl and extended her hands over her in
an attitude of benediction. Stooping to press a kiss
lightly upon the brow of the sleeping girl, she noted
with satisfaction that it was cool and moist. The
girl's lips moved and smiled, and Mrs. Bell caught the
whispered word, "Mother."

The philanthropist moved noiselessly to the door of
the apartment. As she passed out into the hall she met
the maid.

"Nora, you may lower the light in that room and take
your position just outside the door. I do not think the
patient will need any attention to-night, but if she
awakes and makes any demonstrations, attend to her
wants. If anything occurs that you cannot manage,
call me at once. I shall now retire."

The maid did as she was told, but not without paus-

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 31

ing to cast an admiring glance in the direction of her
mistress. She took her place at the door of the apart-
ment, saying softly to herself, in a rich Irish brogue:

"Yis, you'll retire, aftlier yon have taken all the tears
away from the blissid young lady and lift her sleepin'
as if it was in her own mitkor's arms she was, an' she
a two-year-old baby, with niver a sin or a thronble on
her white soul, at all, at all! An' sure, if the loikes of
you don't go to heaven, its mesilf that's wonderin'
whether there'll be any dacint people there, afther all.
And Father McGinnis says you're a haytheist, an' that
yer goin' straight to the divil. Ochone!"

Entirely oblivions of these reflections on the part of
her faithful servant, and conscious only of having per-
formed a duty toward a suffering sister, Mrs. Bell
reached her apartment, and laying aside her wrapper
and donning a robe of snowy whiteness which was not
more pure than her own good motives, she disposed
herself upon her bed and was soon enjoying the peace-
ful slumber which was the portion of all her household,
except the faithful Nora, who remained at her post.

Sleep! Gentle, restful, healing, peaceful sleep! It
fell upon the great city like the brooding wings of a
benevolent angel, and everywhere it carried a blessing
and a benediction. The clanging bells of the cable cars
and the shrieking whistles of the locomotives, the buzz
of ten thousand wheels and the smiting of a thousand
anvils were hushed, and tired men laid down the weap-
ons of toil and temporarily forgot, their sorrows. A
cool breeze, fresh from the bosom of the lake, fluttered

32 LOMA,

over the tops of the houses, wound its way through the
narrow and stifling streets, swept them of millions of
disease-breeding germs, and deposited its burden on the
green prairies of the South, where they became harm-
less fertilizers to the teeming fields. And Sleep said to
the breeze, "I will be your companion," and together
they wandered over the great city. They visited the
tenements of the poor and kissed the cheeks of half-
starved children and the pinched faces of the parents,
and gave them the first sensation of comfort they had
felt in forty-eight hours. They penetrated the stables,
and the tired horses yielded to their influence, and
rested. They entered the homes of the men of busi-
ness, and strong men blessed them and sank to the
negative recuperation of their energies. Tired clerks
inhaled the breeze, with a sense of relief, and embraced
Sleep with a sigh of satisfaction. They rushed through
the saloons, and weary debauchees drank the breeze,
and Sleep gave them brief respite from remorse. In the
brothels, weary, jaded women paused from cursing, to
bless the breeze, and Sleep kissed into temporary obliv-
ion, even the most depraved.

But the breeze said to Sleep, ''Let us make one more
visit," and they entered the mansion of a millionaire on
Prairie avenue. And the breeze bore on its wings a
grain of conscientiousness, and it fell into the brain of
the millionaire and disturbed him. And Sleep said, "I
will depart, until this man learns the way of righteous-
ness." And it came to pass, that the millionaire did
not sleep, and he was tortured with remorse and he

A CITIZEN OF VENDS. 33

said, "Woe is me, for I have not considered the case of
the unfortunate, neither have I listened to the cry <>!

distress."

And while he was yet meditating upon the evil of
his ways, the sun arose and Sleep departed from the
city, but the breeze remained to comfort the inlni hit-
ants thereof.

CHAPTER IV.

TEIE CITIZEN OF VENUS.

"There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than
are dreampt of in your philosophy."

When Doctor Bell arose on the morning following
the events recorded in the preceding chapters, his first
thoughts naturally reverted to the guests who were ia
such a remarkable manner placed within the courtesies
of his hospitality. He arose and dressed himself at
once, and, as he did so, resolved that he would follow
the adventure to its finale, regardless of expense or per-
sonal inconvenience. He was very sure that his mother
would give to the unfortunate young woman every
needed attention, so he did not concern himself about
her as much as he pondered about the extraordinary
character of Loma. He had just completed his toilet,
when a servant appeared at his door and announced:

"The gentleman in the library bedroom has just rung
his bell, sir. and you left word that you were to be
called."

"Quite right, Thomas; I will attend to his wants my-
self."

The doctor proceeded at once to the library and
knocked gently on the door of the bedroom to which
he had conducted Loma the night before. Loma

36 LOMA,

opened it, and seeing the doctor, his face was at once
illumined with one of his peculiar and affectionate ex-
pressions. He extended both hands to the doctor, who
grasped them cordially and exclaimed:

"Good morning, my dear sir. I am delighted to see
you looking so well. I hope you found your quarters
agreeable, and that you are fully recovered from the
fatigue of your journey."

"Delightful, my dear doctor. No one could fail to be
refreshed in the enjoyment of such hospitality as yours,
Those grapes were delicious, and I have enjoyed the
bath and other conveniences to the fullest extent."

"That reminds me, sir, that I came to provide for
your breakfast, after which we will consider such other
matters as may be necessary for your comfort. Is there
anything you would specially prefer? I will have my
steward provide the breakfast for both of us in the
library, and then withdraw, and while we are discuss-
ing the viands, I will listen to any suggestions you have
to offer, in regard to any matter in which I can be of
service to you."

As he spoke, the doctor glanced curiously at Loma,
who was standing in an easy attitude, in the state of
perfect nudity, which he seemed to prefer, and at the
covers of the bed, which were laid carefully over the
footboard and had not been used, while the print of
Loma's body was evident upon the sheet where he had
rested. The elegant silk night robe had not been used,
and was lying upon the chair where the doctor had
placed it when he called Loma's attention to it.

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 37

Evidently his guest had considered his own comfort
rather than fashion, and it was also evident that he
preferred to be nude whenever he could be so with pro-
priety. The doctor's quick eye also noticed, what had
escaped him the night previous, that Loma's body was
covered with soft, downy hair, of exquisite fineness of
quality, but sufficiently copious to afford a very com-
fortable covering against ordinary exposure. The color
of this hair was very much lighter than that which
hung in such profusion from his head, and was in fact
almost the same color as his skin, which accounted for
the fact that the doctor had not noticed it before.

"Thank you, doctor," said Loma, "All I require for
food is such fruits, vegetables and nuts as you may be
able to supply without inconvenience. My only bever-
age is water, and that which you so kindly served last
night is superb in quality. I am aware that you are
accustomed to animal food and grains, and you will
not offend my taste by ordering for yourself anything
which you may prefer, if you propose to entertain me
with your own good company."

"I will be with you in a moment," said the doctor,
smiling; and quitting the room he gave his orders to
an attendant, which were soon executed. In a few
minutes, when the doctor again stepped to the door of
Loma's apartment, he invited the latter to the library,
where a delicious repast awaited them on the table,
in the center of the room. A damask table-cloth had
been laid, and a delicate service of silver and nil glass
glittered upon the table. In baskets of solid silver

38 LOMA,

were tastefully arranged apples, peaches, pears, plums
and grapes. In the center of the table was a large
glass urn filled with the choicest of nuts, while two
smaller dishes were filled with large Florida navel
oranges. Two handsomely engraved silver goblets
flanked a silver water pitcher near the doctor's seat,
and in a receptacle above the urn was arranged a choice
bouquet of flowers. As Loma stepped into the library,
the doctor placed a chair near the table and invited his
guest to be seated, saying, in his usual gracious and
courtly manner.

"Permit me, sir, to offer you the best my resources
afford. The fruits, with the exception of the oranges,
are from the farm near Elgin, which I mentioned to you
last night. The oranges are from another farm which
I am fortunate enough to possess in Florida. For nuts,
I am compelled to depend upon the Chicago market, but
I trust you will find these not altogether unpalatable."

"My dear doctor," said Loma, as he took his seat and
began the repast, "your hospitality leaves nothing to be
desired. These peaches are delicious," he continued,
as he paused to inhale the aroma of a superb specimen
before removing the skin. "Is it not strange that in
the development of your civilization your people have
not learned to apply the same principles to the develop-
ment of humanity, that you have mastered so well in
respect to horticulture?"

"That is one of the facts which have often struck me
as singular," said the doctor, as he poured out a goblet
of sparkling water for Loma, and then filled the re-

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 39

maining one for himself. "Yet, I have attributed it to
this cause. In the evolution of intelligence, man must
first become cognizant of his environment, and the facts
which apply to it arc more interesting than those which
more nearly concern his own individuality. As he
learns more of those objects which surround him, his
curiosity in that direction becomes satisfied, and he
then begins to contemplate himself. It must neces-
sarily follow that he will give more attention, therefore,
at first, to the improvement of his environment than
to the improvement of his own personal condition. For
that reason, in his present stage of development, man
gives greater attention to the improvement of horti-
cultural products, and even to his own domestic ani-
mals, than he does to the improvement of himself.
There is another reason, and that is that these prod-
ucts are immediately marketable, and therefore as at
present man is largely dominated by his acquisitiveness,
he expends his energies in improving that which he
can convert into money in a very short time. He en-
tirely overlooks the fact that human intelligence and
superiority are the final and most powerful factors
in prosperity, but to comprehend this would require a
depth of philosophical reasoning of which our people
are, alas, sadly incapable. But the trend of our best
minds is now in this direction, and many movements
are on foot having for (heir ostensible' end the improve-
ment of the race. Of course these movements are cha-
otic and conflicting, but thai is t<> be expected in the
beginning of any great stage <>f evolution. I am confi-

40 LOMA,

dent that the close of the present century will witness
a marked advance along this line of thought."

Loma had paused in his dissection of the peach, and
had listened to the doctor with interest and admiration
depicted upon his fine countenance. He now spoke with
enthusiasm.

"Your remarks, my dear friend, have shown you to
be the philosopher you are reputed to be in my country.
I am delighted to be the guest of a man who is capable
of viewing things as they are, and of solving, in a meas-
ure, the problems which stand in the way of advance-
ment. When we have finished this delightful repast,
and have gathered from it the strength we shall both
require to comprehend the situation, I shall take pleas-
ure in enlightening you concerning myself."

Loma continued his breakfast with the air of a man
who has an important mission to perform in which he
evidently took great delight. There was an air of
suppressed excitement in his manner, which, neverthe-
less, detracted nothing from the superb dignity which
he always maintained. Doctor Bell regarded him with
respectful curiosity and great interest. He had never
been in the presence of such a man before, and he was
certain, as he considered all that had happened since
their first meeting on the pier, that he was confronted
with the most remarkable episode that had ever oc-
curred in his experience. He had thoroughly resolved
to be equal to any emergency, and he was prepared for
any extraordinary phenomenon which might develop
itself in the premises. P>ut he could not suppress the

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 41

feeling that something was about to occur which would
transcend the usual line of events, and he awaited the
conversation of his guest with intense interest.

Having finished his breakfast with evident relish and
appreciation, Lonia arose from his seat and stood be-
fore the doctor with folded arms. The latter regarded
him with fixed attention. Loma's eyes blazed with a
strange luster, and as he stood looking into the face of
the physician, the expression of his countenance was
animated, sincere and enthusiastic. Doctor Bell was
impressed with the volume of intelligence which seemed
to flash from the eyes of Loma, and his first impression
was, that whatever the extraordinary man before him
should say, would be true. In fact, the doctor had
already noted as one of the peculiarities of the man
his power of seeming to compel belief.

"Doctor Bell," said Loma, impressively, after a brief
pause, ''are you prepared to receive a most unusual
declaration from me, and to receive it with the same
degree of candor with which I deliver it?"

"I am," replied the physician, still regarding his guest
with fixed attention. "The events which I have already
observed have in a measure prepared me for the recep-
tion of still further surprising phenomena, and even if
that were lacking, your own personal character is such
that I would be compelled to treat with respectful con-
sideration anything which you might feel disposed to
communicate. I am deeply interested, even impatient,
to see or hear anything which you may have to offer,
and T have sufficient confidence in you io believe, that

42 . LOMA,

what you have to disclose, however surprising, will
stand any test which I, as a scientific investigator, may
be disposed to apply."

"Thank you, doctor. Your confidence is appreciated,
and I will proceed upon the plane of perfect candor.
I will now give you my residence, which I, for reasons
which you will perfectly understand, withheld from
you last night. Doctor Bell, I am LOMA, A citizen
of Venus.

"Of Venus?"

"Yes, sir, of Venus. The beautiful star which il-
lumined the western heavens last evening, which you
have studied through your telescope with the interest
of an astronomer, was until last evening, a moment be-
fore we met, my home and abiding place. I arrived
upon this planet at the precise moment that the young
woman who is now enjoying your hospitality in another
apartment touched the waters of Lake Michigan in the
mad attempt to end her existence, which we both wit-
nessed. Strange as it may appear to you, our meeting un-
der such peculiar circumstances was not accidental, but
in accordance with the plan of certain great events
which have been arranged by forces entirely unknown
to you and to her, but in which you are both destined to
play important parts. My own position in this important
drama is that of an humble agent of the aforesaid pow-
ers, but a position of which I am extremely proud. I
am intrusted with a commission fraught with conse-
quences of the greatest moment to the inhabitants of
this planet, for the execution of which I am directed

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 43

to rely upon your assistance. It may be a source of
satisfaction and pride to you, sir, to know, that, from
the moment of your conception in your mother's womb,
you have been selected by the powers to which I refer
as the person to aid me in this enterprise, as I was se-
lected from an equally important moment for its prose-
cution. The credit for the selection, in each case, is
due to our excellent mothers, who, by conforming to
the most perfect conditions of gestation and subse-
quent education, endowed us each with the requisite
powers for the successful consummation of the most
important service ever rendered to mankind."

As Loma finished this declaration, he extended his
hands and clasped those of the doctor, in a fervid and
enthusiastic grasp. The doctor returned his grasp
with enthusiasm, and while he thrilled under the mag-
netism of Loma, which for the moment seemed to be of
more than its former intensity, he felt that he himself
was glowing with a corresponding emanation, which
the association of Loma seemed to have suddenly called
out. He was conscious of the most delicious sensations
and he surrendered himself to them without reserve.
He could not help believing every word spoken by
Loma, but the disclosure was so wonderful that he was
confused and bewildered. Loma noticed this and said:

"Compose yourself, my dear friend, and let me give
you the substance of my narrative, as you arc able to
receive it. In the meantime, if you will drink tliis gob-
let of water which T have charged with certain mac-

44 . LOMA,

netic conditions not known to your therapeutics, you
will be considerably strengthened."

As Loma spoke, he handed the doctor one of the gob-
lets which he had filled, and which he had held for a
moment under the palm of his hand. The doctor drank
it, and as he did so noted that it had a strange aroma
and flavor, and that it sparkled unusually. As he
drank it he felt his excitement subside, his senses be-
came perfectly collected, and he awaited the further
disclosures of Loma with the cool interest of a scientist
and philosopher.

"I am astonished at what you say," he said to Loma,
as the latter resumed his seat; "but I am prepared to
follow you through your entire statement, and to re-
ceive such arguments and proofs as you may desire to
submit."

"That is what I have expected from a man of your
caliber," said Loma, admiringly, "and I will proceed.
Know, then, that it is a part of the economy of the
Universe, that each planet shall, at certain intervals,
not regular as to time, but determined by the progress
of development, receive from that planet in the same
solar system which precedes it in development, certain
impulses, which are accomplished b}' the translation of
germs from the preceding planet to the succeeding.
These germs are translated by an electro-magnetic
process, which I am not at liberty to disclose, for the
reason that this planet has not yet reached that stage
of development at which it would be practicable for
men to use it. It is sufficient for me to say, that, when

A CITIZEX OF VENUS. 45

it becomes necessary for a germ to be translated, a
proper vehicle is provided, and the genus are trans-
lated from the first planet to the second with the same
rapidity that a dispatch could be sent if a telegraph
line were established between them. It is in this way
that vegetation first appears upon any planet, and later
that the various forms of life are evolved. In each case
the parent germs are deposited upon the planet from
the planet preceding it in development. The planet
Venus, being the precedent of the earth, is the source of
supply for the germs of all the developments which you
have. The operation of this law has been known in
Venus for many centuries, and our scientists have
watched with great interest the outcome of the many
varieties of germs that have been, from time to time,
translated from our planet to yours. The law of trans-
lation not being recognized on this planet, you have re-
mained in ignorance of it, and have not even known the
effect of the translations of vegetation which have been
made to Mars from the earth, which is the precedent of
Mars. These translations have been going on from re-
motest time, and you have long since received all of the
varieties of germs of vegetation which are known upon
our planet, but they have not reached an equal stage of
development. The same fact is time of the animal
germs and the germs of humanity. What remains to
be translated now are germs of thought, and of such 1
am the honored custodian. In obedience to the great
law of development of which I have spoken, the time
has arrived when it has become necessary for the fur-

46 LOMA,

ther progress of your civilization, that certain germs
of thought should be translated from our planet to
yours, which, taking root here, will marvelously accel-
erate your advancement. In the accomplishment of
this design I. am the vehicle of certain thoughts which
I am commissioned to deliver upon this planet. To en-
able them to take root and accomplish the purpose of
the powers which sent me, it is necessary that they
should be planted in fruitful soil and cultivated with
the utmost solicitude «md intelligence. The beautiful
young female whom we caught from the bosom of Lake
Michigan last night has been destined from the first
moment of her existence to be the receptacle of the
germs which I am commissioned to plant. Yourself,
your honored mother, and such other persons as we
shall hereafter take into our confidence, are the hus-
bandmen who will cultivate and disseminate these
germs of living truth."

"This is magnificent," exclaimed the doctor. "I think
I understand the outline of the plan, but there are some
questions I would like to ask."

"As many as you please."

"How does it happen that your planet Venus is the
precedent of the earth? Our astronomers have dis-
cussed that question to a great extent, and they are
generally agreed that Venus is a younger planet than
the earth. In fact, one of the most eminent observers
has recently declared that Mars is the planet which
precedes ours in development, and that our advance-
ment does in some measure depend upon the study of

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 47

conditions upon its surface. An animated discussion
has recently been carried on as to the possibility of
communicating with the astronomers of Mars, and vari-
ous plans have been suggested, but nothing as yet has
seemed practical."

''There are no astronomers on Mars," said Loma, smil-
ing, "and if your observers should succeed in divining
the true condition of affairs on that planet they would
get more information as to the condition of matters
on this planet hundreds of centuries ago. Your as-
tronomers are, as a rule, brilliant and astute men, but
they have utterly failed to understand the true rule
of progression, because they have ignored the primal
laws of genesis, which govern the production of stars,
as well as of planets, animals and human beings. Ig-
noring these laws, they have been led into fatal errors
as to the origin and nature of the stars themselves, as
well as the effects produced by one star upon another,
hence their conceptions of the causes of solar heat and
light are totally erroneous."

"It is commonly supposed," said the doctor, "that,
Venus being at least twenty-five million miles closer to
the blazing mass of the sun than we are, the increase in
the amount of heat received would be sufficient to pre-
clude the possibility of any form of life with which we
are familiar existing upon its surface."

"Here, again, your astronomers are in error. The
sun is not a blazing mass, nor does it radiate heat or
light. The conditions upon Venus are so nearly like
those upon this planet that in my sudden transition to

48 LOMA.

this earth I have experienced no inconvenience what-
ever. If you could be as suddenly removed to the sur-
face of Venus as I have been from Venus to earth, you
would find yourself in a region in which the physical
characteristics are so similar that you would be in-
sensible to the change, did you not observe the radical
difference in the inhabitants and their accomplish-
ments. In these latter respects we are many centuries
in advance of you in the development of humanity and
all that that implies.

"I will now proceed to explain the cause. Stars and
planets are the product of growth, as is every other
object with which we are familiar. If the sun were a
blazing mass, as you have supposed, and the planets
simply cooled cinders, according to the popular hy-
pothesis, the process of combustion would have en-
tirely devitalized them, and being dead themselves, they
would be incapable of sustaining life. On the contrary,
the planets of each solar system are living organs, of
which the central sun is the parent, and they are pro-
jected into space according to the operation of the same
law which governs the gestation and projection of every
other object. The grand principles of sex are the
potencies which produce this result. You are familiar
with the operations of the male and female principles,
as expressed in plants and animals. The same princi-
ples are expressed in the operation of creation through-
out the universe. Stars are generated continuously
from a prime potential source in which the genitive
factors are space, matter, omnipresence, limitation, per-

A CITIZEN OF VENTS.

49

sistency, consistency, continuance and divisibility. The
first two of these factors, to-wit, space and matter, con-
stitute the prime source, the male and female princi-
ples, from which all creation is derived. Space is nega-
tive, matter is positive. Space is female, matter is
male. Space is omnipresent, persistent and continu-
ous. Matter is limited, consistent and divisible. The
eternal affinity which exists between these negative
and positive principles produces worlds, stars and solar
systems, as well as the most minute forms of growth of
every organism which exists.

"Your astronomers and philosophers say that nature
abhors a vacuum. The true statement of this princi-
ple is that matter loves space. Wherever unoccupied
space exists, matter tries to fill it. The omnipresence
of space and the limitation of matter makes this a
never-ending struggle, which produces all the phe-
nomena of growth. The constant mutations of matter
are the result of its eternal effort to occupy space.

"By virtue of the genderic degree of state with which
space, matter, omnipresence and limitation are en-
dowed, like degrees of genitive passion are generated
among them. The negative degree of this genitive pus
sion is ever generated in unoccupied space, and we call
it electricity. The positive degree is ever generated
from all matter, and we call it magnetism. In other
words, electricity is the love of space for mailer and
magnetism is the love or passion of matter for space. It
is therefore evident that the entire creation is founded
on love as its great creative principle, and Hint when

50 LOMA,

man places himself in harmony with the universal law
of love, his advancement is as rapid as growth is pos-
sible.

-"It follows from the principles that I have announced
that the stars and planets, being composed of matter,
are all masculine. You are doubtless familiar with the
fact, that all genesis proceeds by the successive steps
of impregnation, incubation and parturition. The pas-
sion of the male produces a germ, which is deposited in
the female, who nourishes it during the period of in-
cubation, when final parturition endows it with a sep-
arate life.

"The sun may, therefore, be properly recognized as
the male parent of all the planets within this solar
system, as space is the female parent. The grand pas-
sion of the sun for the space which surrounds him, has
caused him at various intervals to produce the germs
of the planets, which, as they have matured within his
substance, have been deposited by him, in the fervency
of his love for space, within the broad womb of her
maternal receptivity, w7here they have been nourished
by her during their respective periods of incubation.
This nourishment is derived from the immense quantity
of matter which space constantly holds as a product of
the disintegration which is continually resulting from
the depletion and death of planets and stars. This
product, orginally devitalized, is regenerated with her
electricity after an inconceivable period of time, and
being brought into contact with a germ from the sun
which is glowing with magnetism, a mutual attraction

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 51

results which causes them (<> unite. This beautiful
phenomenon is visible to you every night of the year.
A meteor, which is simply the fragment of a (lend
planet, long held in the embrace of Space, and by her
reduced to a condition in which electricity preponder-
ates over magnetism, but still retaining some magnet-
ism, comes within the attraction of the center of elec-
trical receptivity of the earth, which is simply one of
the living germs still requiring nourishment. The re-
ceptivity of the earth attracts this meteor, and finding
an affinity for its remnant of magnetism, it rushes to
the embrace of the earth, and in doing so, encounters
the resistance of the earth's magnetism and atmos-
phere, which fuses it and causes it to dissipate itself
by the fervency of its own passion. It will become
incorporated into the earth's substance and will remain
until it is again thrown off by some other manifestation
of the eternal energy of the passion of matter for space.
"Meteors and asteroids are the fragments of dead
planets, held in solution by space. The asteroids and
meteors which we encounter are the fragments of
dead members of our solar system which have not
entirely disintegrated, hence the fragments retain the
original orbits in effect. Space holds an immense
quantity of matter which is entirely dissolved, and
is therefore absorbed without any phenomena whioh
is visible to our senses, as the meteor is, after it
has been entirely fused in our atmosphere. As the
sun gives out his energy in new generations of planet
germs and magnetism, he is constantly depleting him

52 LOMA,

self, and will ultimately die, when a large portion of his
substance will remain, to be disintegrated by decompo-
sition in the form of a comet, as in the case with
all dead bodies. Comets are simply the decomposing
bodies of dead worlds, glowing with the phosphores-
cence which always accompanies decomposition. The
planets will continue to grow until the3T have reached
the full limit of their vitality, which is only measured
by the quantity of nourishment which space holds in
the regions in which they move, and their inherent ab-
sorbing power, which is an inheritance from their par-
ents, space and matter, and which is decided by the
conditions of space and matter under which they were
generated, precisely as the vitality of any earthly child
depends upon the conditions of his parents at the mo-
ment of conception.

"The moon is an example of a planet germ in the
process of incubation, as are all the moons of the plan-
ets Jupiter, Saturn, etc. While a planet germ is in the
period of incubation, it has no atmosphere and no di-
urnal motion. These limitations as to atmosphere and
diurnal motion correspond to the limitations which
you see imposed upon all germs during the process of
incubation. The young chicken in the egg does not
breathe, nor does it manifest the motions which after-
birth enable it to manifest life. Atmosphere is the
breath of a planet. Diurnal motion is the regular
manifestation of its functionality.

"Star and planet germs, like all others, have their
vicissitudes. Some may be devitalized during the pe-
riod of incubation; some are destroyed by the opposi-

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 53

tion of superior forces, and some live out the full period
of their existence.

"From this brief statement of the nature and effed
of genesis in the solar system, it follows, as von would
readily infer from the observation of growth in other
forms, that those products of gestation which lie near-
est to the parent are the oldest. Some of the older
children of our sun, which originally lay nearer to him
than Mercury, have already died and have been decom-
posed into their original elements, and are now held in
solution in the everlasting anus of space. Mercury is
the oldest living member of our solar family, and from
him, as from an older brother to younger members of
the same family, there is a constant radiation of mag-
netism, containing germs of good will and progress,
toward all the younger planets.

"Venus ranks next in order, and there is from him
a constant emanation of these germs to other and
younger planets. There is also a form of reciprocal
affection, exercised from a younger planet toward an
older one, but as it does not imply the transmission of
progressive germs, it does not concern us to consider
that at this time.

"It is in obedience to this great law of the transla-
tion of germs from an older planet to a younger one,
that I have been sent to this planet, to deliver the
thoughts which by careful impression and education
have been implanted in my brain, and have readied the
proper stage of growth to be transplanted to the brain
of an inhabitant of this planet. How (his shall be ac-
complished, I will now proceed to explain."

CHAPTER V.

THE MISSION OF LOMA.

"There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the
moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differeth
from another star in glory."

Loma had held the undivided attention of his listener
during the foregoing narrative. In fact, Doctor Bell
had never heard from human lips as brilliant and lucid
an explanation of the phenomena which for years had
possessed for him all the fascination of an absorbing
study. In a few brief words, Loma had set before him
a complete and reasonable solution of the greatest
problems of astronomy, and many which he had con-
sidered as practically unknowable were now made per-
fectly clear. The philosophy itself would have charmed
him if the ideas had been crudely expressed by an unin-
teresting person. But the faultless language of Loma,
his superb manner and his magnetic and convincing
delivery, combined with the absolute reasonableness of
all he had uttered, raised the doctor to an ecstasy of
enthusiasm.

"My dear Loma," he exclaimed as the latter paused
in his narrative, "this is a transcendent experience.
You convince me that all you say is true, and yet it
contains a perfect demolition of all our cherished the-

(55)

56 LOMA,

ories. But I am impatient to know how you, at a dis-
tance of twenty-five million miles, came to be acquaint-
ed with my existence, and also with the existence and
destiny of the young female whom you say has been
selected for the high office of receiving the germs of
thought which you are to implant. Moreover, how
does it happen that you, a citizen of a world many
centuries in advance of this one, are so perfectly ac-
quainted with the language which we speak on this
planet."

"Nothing is easier," replied Loma. "You are doubt-
less familiar with the crude phenomena of clairvoyance,
as practiced here. Well, in our world we have devel-
oped this power to such a degree that it is entirely pos-
sible for our adepts to see what is transpiring on anoth-
er planet with far greater ease and much more satis-
factory results than your best clairvoyants here can
discern what is transpiring in another city. In that
way we have not only learned at what time you are
ripe for the reception of other germs, but the precise
conditions and locality in which to plant them. Your
conditions, as well as those of your excellent mother,
and of the young female who is, at this moment, receiv-
ing her ministrations, have been carefully noted, and at
the proper time our meeting has occurred. In the
same way, knowing that it was my high destiny to be
the bearer of the germs of thought to her and to you,
it has been a part of my training to prepare myself
thoroughly in your language and literature."

"In what way, may I ask, are you to impress her

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 57

with the thoughts which von are" commissioned to
deliver?"

"In order that you may properly understand my
answer to that question, it will be necessary for you to
know more of her history, which you will, of course,
understand has been known to me for many years, and
you may imagine with what affectionate interest I have
followed all the details of its development. In brief,
her history is as follows: She is the daughter of
Charles Burnham, a teacher and writer of great ability,
and a man of spotless integrity, who died in this city
in 1878, when Myrtle was three years old. Her
mother, a beautiful and supremely cultured woman,
survived him seven years, when she also died, and
little Myrtle was taken by her mother's brother,
who became guardian for the small property which
Myrtle inherited from her parents and which was ex-
hausted in her education, which has been quite exten-
sive. She is an accomplished linguist and musician,
and has inherited all of the superb talents of her father
as a teacher and writer. Her uncle and aunt, with
whom she has resided until three days ago, are well
meaning people, but the victims of the false philosophy
of that form of Christianity which is expressed in the
strictest form of Presbyterianisrn. It is one of the
curiosities of the Christian religion, as it is practiced on
this planet, that it condemns to social ostracism, star-
vation and contumely every female who imitates the
example of the mother of the man they worship as < rod.

"Abonl one year ago, Myrtle became acquainted with

58 LOMA,

a most excellent young man, by the name of Albert
Caldwell, who was a member of a literary society of
which she was secretary. They were complete com-
plements of each other's natures, and the acquaintance
inevitably ripened into love. They were engaged to be
married, and the wedding was set for the twelfth of
June. As is customary, the young people were accus-
tomed to spend much time in each other's society, and
they indulged freely in kisses and caresses, and other
demonstrations of affection. Myrtle is a superbly sexed
young woman, and the excitement of her lover's ca-
resses brought on a degree of sexual passion which
neither of them could control. Believing that they were
perfectly safe, and having perfect confidence in each oth-
er, they participated several times in the act of coition.
It is hardly necessary for me to say, doctor, that this
was the result of forces which were entirely beyond
their control and a preparation for the events which
are to follow in connection with my mission. Albert
was entirely honorable in his intentions, and would
have killed himself before he would have permitted any
harm to come to his sweetheart through his rashness.
In one of these acts of coition, in which her sexual pas-
sion and her love for her betrothed found its most
complete and full expression, she conceived the son
with which she is now pregnant, and which is now in
the fourth month of incubation. On the eleventh day of
June Albert was killed in an accident on a cable car in
the La Salle street tunnel as he was on his way to visit
Myrtle. The girl bore this calamity bravely, although

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 59

her heart was almost broken. She had, however, ow-
ing to the buoyancy of her temperament, practically
recovered from this grief when she began to discover
the changes in her organization which are familiar to
you as the first indications of pregnancy. It is only
fair to remark, in this connection, that up to the pres-
ent time she has had no instruction whatever in the
mysteries of physiology, her aunt and uncle, and nearly
all others of that faith, regarding such instruction as
the height of indecency, and unfit for a virgin to even
have mentioned in her presence. As a consequence,
when Myrtle cohabited with her lover she was totally
ignorant of the consequences, and in her innocence and
ignorance, when she began to notice the changes which
are the symptoms of pregnancy, she went to her aunt,
to whom she naturally looked for advice and instruc-
tion, and asked her what it meant. Imagine her dis-
may, when her aunt had, by a few shrewd questions,
discovered the truth, which Myrtle made no effort to
conceal, when she was informed that she was an out-
cast from the comfortable home in which she had been
reared, and that those to whom she had been accus-
tomed to look for protection were now her most bitter
enemies, following her with a mercilessness which even
prevented her from being harbored by another relative
who was more compassionate. Driven from shelter,
bounded by those who should have been her protectors,
insulted by a lecherous scoundrel and rebuffed by every-
body with whom she came in contact, after (wo nights
and three days of despair, she sought rest in the waters

60 LOMA,

of Lake Michigan, and found it in the sympathizing
bosom of your family."

"Thanks to your opportune appearance, and your su-
perb rescue," interrupted the doctor.

"All of which was for a purpose," resumed Loma.
"My appearance at that moment was in obedience to a
natural law which I had no power to resist and in ful-
fillment of my destiny and yours.

"For the accomplishment of my mission in the trans
lation of germs of thought, the following conditions are
necessary: First, there must be a vehicle, sent from
the precedent planet to the succeedent, as I have
already explained. I am the vehicle, and the thougnis
are in my possession.

"Second, there must be a young and impressionable
female who is in a state of pregnancy, and advanced as
far as the fourth month, at which time it is possible for
her to impress her offspring with the germs of thought
which she may receive from conversation with the per-
son who bears the germs to her in that manner.

"Third, the offspring with which she is pregnant
must be of such superior quality, and she herself must
be such an impressionable medium of communication
between her instructor and her offspring, that the best
possible results may be obtained from the process.

"I am delighted to state that in the present case all
of these requirements are met, and that the offspring
with which Myrtle Burnham is pregnant is as perfect
as it is possible for human beings at this stage of the
world's progress to produce. Her boy will be a com-

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 61

plete reproduction of all her own good qualities, resem-
bling his mother in form and feature, reinforced by a
superb vitality from Iris father, and such other and
further excellencies as I shall be able to impress upon
him with your assistance. Being conceived in the pur-
est expression of love, at a time when both his parents
were in the best possible condition, he will develop into
a. teacher and writer, the like of which has never been
seen upon this earth, for he himself will be pregnant
with great truths, the utterance of which will revolu-
tionize society."

Doctor Bell could no longer contain himself. He
embraced Loma with all the ardor of his affectionate
nature, exclaiming, "It is grand! Magnificent! Suit-
lime! My entire personal resources and services are at
your disposal for the accomplishment of this noble pur-
pose. But tell me, dear friend, why have I been hon-
ored by being selected to aid you in your grand
mission?"

"You have furnished a practical answer to your own
question, my dear 1 not her," said Loma. "Your own su-
perb character, inherited from the best of mothers,
your advanced and liberal ideas, your magnificent gen-
erosity, and your ample fortune, which you eminently
deserve, have all combined to make you the one man of
all the world, capable and worthy to aid me in this, the
grandest of all enterprises."

"I am yours to command, at any sacrifice," exclaimed
the doctor, "lint before we terminate this interesting
conversation, T wish to ask you a few more questions,

62 LOMA,

You have stated that the sun does not radiate light or
heat. I should infer, therefore, that the sun, like this
earth, is a world, perhaps having substantially similar
physical characteristics, and only differing from this
earth in the fact of being older and larger by growth,
as earthly parents are older and larger by growth than
their infant progeny. Am I correct?"

"Precisely."

"How, then, do you account for the phenomena of
light and heat which seem to be developed by the sun's
rays as soon as he rises above the horizon?"

"You, of course, understand, from what I have al-
ready said, that the sun, being a living organ, composed
of matter, is radiating constantly an emanation of mag-
netism, which, having a natural affinity for space,
penetrates space as far as his influence is capable
of making itself felt. Of course a certain amount of
this magnetism strikes that side of the earth which is
presented to the sun."

"Certainly."

"Now, coldness is the phenomenon of electricity and
composure. Hotness is the phenomenon of magnetism
and fervency. Darkness is the phenomenon of recep-
tivity and gravity, while light is the phenomenon of
radiation and vibration. To be more explicit, in the
ratio in which electricity and composure dominate over
magnetism and fervency, we have coldness as a result;
hence it is colder on that side of the earth which is
turned away from the sun, because there is no mag-
netism striking that side, and it is in a state of com-

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 63

posure. On the other side, that is, the side next to the
sun, the rays of magnetism are striking- the atmosphere
of the earth and penel rating to its surface, and Ave have
magnetism dominating over electricity, and heat is
produced, and it is more intense as the ray is more
vertical or direct. The heat, therefore, which our con-
sciousness ascribes to the sun is really generated in the
atmosphere of the earth, by the magnetism of the sun
striking a resisting medium. The proof of this is
found in the fact that the higher we ascend into the
atmosphere of the earth the colder it becomes, because
as the atmosphere becomes more rare the sun ray is
less restrained. Beyond the outer atmospheric limits,
heat is impossible until another atmosphere is reached.

"Darkness is exhibited in the ratio that receptivity
and gravity dominate over radiation and vibration.
Conversely, light is exhibited in the ratio in which
radiation and vibration dominate over receptivity and
gravity. Consequently, on that side of the earth upon
which we have the radiation of the sun's magnetism,
and the vibrations of the atmosphere caused thereby .
we have light. Beyond the outer limits of the atmos-
phere, light is as impossible as heat, until another
atmosphere is reached.

"This explains why, as I have said, there is no reason
for supposing that the sun is a blazing mass. This
conception grows out of the impression produced upon
the consciousness, which is a totally unreliable guide.
It is just as absurd to believe that the earth is fiat, yet,
until science proved the contrary, such was the uni-
versal belief."

64 LOMA,

"Recent experiments have certainly shown, that the
higher we go in balloon ascensions, and the closer we
get to the outer limits of the atmosphere, the darker
and colder it becomes,"' said the doctor.

"Certainly," said Loma. "Now, if the observer at
high altitude had a mirror, if your commonly accepted
hypothesis were correct, he should be able to reflect as
bright an image of the sun as he can at the surface of
the earth. We know this is not the case; and if he
were beyond the outer limits of the atmosphere, he
could not get any image at all, for under such condi-
tions light and heat are both impossible."

"But," said the doctor musingly, "if such is the case,
how does it happen that light is developed on the sur-
face of the moon which has no atmosphere?"

"There is no light or heat from the sun, developed on
the moon. The rays of the sun's magnetism which
strike the surface of the moon are reflected to this
earth, and passing into our atmosphere produce light,
which enables us to form an image of the moon. But
if an observer could be translated to the center
of the apparently illuminated surface of the moon,
he would find himself in total darkness and absolute
cold, as far as the sun is concerned. All the heat
which the moon has is internal heat generated by
its own fervency of magnetic passion, which is very
small comparatively until it passes from incu-
bation to actual activity. Then it will form
an atmosphere, and the magnetism of the earth,
acting through the laws we have just discussed, will

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 65

give it light and heat, as the sun gives light and heat
to the earth. When the sun dies, there will be no per-
ceptible diminution of heat and light on the moon, for
the earth will be the source of its supply.

"Our solar center, the sun, has heat and light on its
surface, developed by its parent, a super-solar center,
around which our sun revolves. This super-solar cen-
ter is too remote for us to determine whether it has a
revolution around an extra-super-solar center or not.
It is probable that it has, but if our super-solar center
is the center of a complete stellar system, which is
true, if its more remote ancestors are dead, then this
super-solar center is enshrouded in perpetual and
almost total darkness and frigidity, for although radi-
ating magnetism itself, it is receiving none,except from
very remote stars, which would, of course, afford the
same quantity of starlight we receive, but hardly an
appreciable degree of heat. When it has become de-
pleted and has expired, then our sun and all his brother
suns who revolve around the same super-solar center
will become centers of complete stellar systems, and
will be perpetually shrouded in darkness and frigidity.
But they will continue to animate their children with
the radiation of their magnetisms until they in turn are
depleted. When this finally occurs, this earth will
have grown by accretion, as I have already described,
to the dimensions of its parent, our present sun, more
or less, according to the conditions of its existence, as
is exhibited in all other growths. In the light of this
philosophy, the destinies of your father, the earth, and

66 LOMA,

my father. Venus, are something glorious to eon-
template."

"Why do you say 'father?' " inquired the doctor.

"Because each world is masculine, being composed of
matter,'' replied Loma. "Space is the universal mother
of us all "

"This is a sublime philosophy," exclaimed Doctor
Bell. "My dear Loma, you have in one brief interview
given me a better grasp of the mysteries of astronomy
than I have been able to obtain in years of study. I
will not press you with more questions at this time, but
will take immediate measures to secure your personal
comfort Now, what is your pleasure in regard to your
clothing and the employment of your time?"

"I am not accustomed to the use of clothing of any
kind," said Loma. "In Venus we have long since out-
grown the barbarism of that practice. A very large
per cent, of disease which afflicts the inhabitants of
this planet is due to the habit of wearing the absurd
costumes which are seen on your streets. Moreover,
the outrageous belief that the exposure of the human
form is indecent is responsible for most of the sexual
crimes which afflict your civilization."

"I have long believed that to be true," said the doctor,
"and my mother, who is one of the purest and best
of women, from my infancy has inculcated the same
doctrine. She, my father and myself, always enjoyed
the luxury of a sunbath in the conservatory, which my
father built for the purpose and which I shall be
pleased to introduce you to. Here in my home, sur-

A CITIZEN OF VENUS 67

rounded by my faithful servants, all of whom owe their
lives to my professional services in some way or anoth-
er, we are perfectly safe in the prosecution of any
actions which we may deem conducive to health or
morality, without consulting our neighbors. But if
you expect to visit other localities, it will be necessary
to conform, to some extent at lenst, to the customs of
those who are not as far advanced as ourselves, in or
der to avoid unpleasant consequences."

"That is true, and in the immediate future we will
give that subject proper consideration. If you will
give me the freedom of the conservatory you mention,
and the use of your library, T shall be perfectly com-
fortable. Tn the meantime, T desire to cultivate the
acquaintance of your mother and Myrtle. I greatly
prefer to meet them as I am, for it is intolerable to me
that their first impressions of myself should be asso-
ciated with the ridiculous effects which would be pro-
duced if I were attired in any of the fantastic costumes
which have come to be regarded as a part of the per-
sonality of your citizens."

"My mother will be delighted to meet you," said the
doctor, rising. "And now, if you will excuse me, I will
attend for a few hours to other duties. I will join you
again in time for lunch, and in the interim I will have
arranged for your complete entertainment. With your
permission, I will now conduct you to the conservatory,
where you may entertain yourself until I can again
avail myself of your delightful companionship."

68 LOMA.

So saying the doctor took Loma by the arm and con-
ducted him to the second floor of his residence. At
the top of a broad flight of steps he unlocked a large
door, and a scene of surpassing beauty delighted the
expectant eyes of the citizen of Venus.

CHAPTER VI.

THE ANNUNCIATION.

"Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit
of thy womb!"

When Myrtle Burnham opened her eyes on the day
following her attempted suicide, it was with an ex-
quisite sense of rest, luxury and safety. The treatment
she had received at the hands of Doctor Bell and his
mother, the gracious sympathy of the latter, and above
all the impression that she was now with friends upon
whom she could rely, filled the mind of the girl with
hope and thankfulness. The events of the three pre-
ceding days were too severe and momentous for her to
understand, and she did not attempt it. She only
knew, that, whereas, she had before felt like a hunted
fawn, pursued by dogs and harassed by enemies, she
now had a delicious sense of protection, comfort and
congenial association. It is one of the curious facts
of human constitution, that the most delightful sensa-
tions are those which immediately ensue upon the relief
of pain. Myrtle was now experiencing one of these
reactions. When she entered the room in which she
was now lying, she was in a state of complete collapse,
caused by fear, exhaustion and shock. Under the kind

(G9)

70 LOMA,

and intelligent ministrations of Mrs. Bell these painful
impressions had passed away, and she had sunk into a
delightful slumber, or rather an ecstasy of relief, in
which all consciousness became lost in a succession of
dreamy impressions of goodness. This was succeeded
by a heavy slumber which lasted until after 12 o'clock
noon, when nature asserted herself, and she slowly
awoke to a comprehension of her situation. For a long
time she lay with her eyes closed, while the events of
the past three days and nights passed slowly in review
before her mental vision. Her conversation with her
aunt, the horror of her expulsion, her adventures on the
street, her attempted suicide and her rescue by Loma
and the doctor, seemed to her like the phantasmagoria
of an awful dream. They did not disturb her, and so
complete was her sense of present safety that they
merely formed a dark background to the sweeter im-
pressions of her interview with Mrs. Bell.

Slowly the blue eyes opened, and as she became
accustomed to the dim light which came through win-
dows which had been carefully shaded by the faithful
Nora, in order that her sleep might last as long as pos-
sible, Myrtle became conscious of the fact that she was
lying in a sumptuously furnished apartment, the ap-
pointments of which reflected luxury, combined with
exquisite taste. Every incident of the furnishings
seemed to be a part of a harmonious assemblage of
restf ulness, comfort and hospitality. Myrtle was so
completely impressed with this fact that she abandoned
herself once more to the sense of luxury and safety

A CITIZEN OF VENUS.

71

which overwhelmed her, and turning over in the bed,
which seemed to be itself charged with a benediction,
she sighed:
"Oh, this is heaven itself."

"Are yez awake, darlint," said a pleasant voice, and
opening her eyes once more, Myrtle recognized the face
of the maid who had attended her the night before.

"Oh, yes, and T have had such a delightful dream.
Oh, this is so nice, and you are all so kind."

"Bless your swate face, who could be unkind to the
likes of you. It wouldn't be Nora O'Grady, an' bad
'cess to the likes of them that ever caused you the
trouble that brought the tears to your swate eyes last
night. But yez are all right now. Would yez like to
slape some more, or will I be afther helpin' ye with yer
twiletf

"Thank you, Nora; you may wash my face if you
like, and comb my hair, before that dear lady comes in
who was here last night. I presume she is your mis-
tress."

"Indade she is, an' sure its mesilf wouldn't be livin'
to-day, if it wasn't for her and the doctor, her son, he is.
Ah! but he's the swate gintleman! an' sure, all he has
to do is to look at a body, and they gets well in spite of
themselves, I'm thinkin'."

Amused at the intense loyalty of the maid, but at the
same time mentally conceding that the praise was well
placed, Myrtle submitted to her manipulations with a
further sense of sympathy and comfort. When Nora
had bathed her face, and had bound back her luxurious

72 LOMA,

tresses with a ribbon, she paused and looked admiring-
ly into Myrtle's face and said with genuine Irish appro-
bativeness :

"There now, you look as if you were ready to meet
the finest lady in the land, an' sure that's what's comin'.
Oh! but isn't your hair purty. But the missus left
orders, as how I was to get your breakfast as soon as
ye waked up, an' if yez like, I'll be after gettin' it at
wanst."

"Thank you, Nora. I am really hungry, I believe.
I did not eat anything yesterday, and I begin to feel as
though I would enjoy a breakfast."

The maid withdrew, and in a few moments returned
with a tray containing a tempting arrangement of sim-
ple food. A dish of toast, a small piece of steak, done
to a turn, an omelet and a small urn filled with steam-
ing liquid, all delicately served in beautifully decorated
small dishes. A bunch of Concord grapes and an
orange completed the repast, which Myrtle regarded
with the interest of an artist.

"This is delicious," she exclaimed as Nora poured
out a cup of the liquid from the urn. "What is this,
Nora? It is not coffee."

"That's restoria," said Nora. "It's something Mrs.
Bell invented a long time ago, and we all like it. Sure,
you'll never get a drink of coffee in this house. They
don't have anything here that's any harm to any one.
There's no liquor in the cookin', nor in the house, for
that matter, and the missus wouldn't let me cousin,
what comes to see me, light bis pipe in the back yard.

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 73

The whole premises, as the doctor calls 'em, is sacred
to health and goodness, he says, and sure it's himself
that does be spakin' the truth, for not a bit of sickness
has any of the family or the servants had since I've
known 'em, and that be six years, come next Christ-
mas."

While Nora was thus volubly sounding the praises
of her employers, Myrtle finished her breakfast and
leaned back against the pillows of the luxurious bed,
with a delightful consciousness of strength regained.
Nora removed the tray, and said:

"Now, I'll go to tell the missus, that yez have had a
good breakfast, and that yer as well and as smilin' as
a basket of chips."

Nora departed, and Myrtle awaited the coming of
Mrs. Bell with an impatience born of love and grati-
tude. Nora had opened one of the windows, and the
sunlight was streaming in and falling in a broad ray
across the bed. To the mind of the girl, raised so sud-
denly from the darkest despair to the brightest of hope,
it seemed a promise of happiness, and she felt her
whole being warmed with the magnetism of its rays.
While she was breathing a prayer of thankfulness and
hope, the door opened and Mrs. Bell advanced to the
bedside. Myrtle threw up her arms, and clasping her
benefactress about the neck, kissed her again and
again, finally burying her face ou her shoulder and
bursting into a Hood of tears.

"()li, l love you so! T love you so!" she exclaimed
when her emotion had calmed sufficiently for her to

74 LOMA,

speak. "I am so happy, and I have had such sweet
dreams. My mother came to me last night and kissed
me and told me not to fear anything in the future.
She said that you would be my mother here on earth,
and that I should love you and trust you as I would
her, and I do. Oh, I would love to be as good as you
are."

"You shall be my own sweet daughter, Myrtle dear,
and you may call me mother if you like, for you shall
remain with me henceforth, and it will be my loving
duty to protect and cherish you as you deserve," said
Mrs. Bell, as she kissed her tenderly and, as Myrtle
thought, reverentially.

"I will be your daughter, and I will love and respect
you in all things," said Myrtle, "for you have certainly
been a mother to me when I most needed love and
sympathy."

The compact was sealed with a long and loving kiss,
and Myrtle lay upon the pillow, holding the hand of her
new found mother, caressing it tenderly.

"My dear child," said Mrs. Bell, after a pause, "are
you as well and strong as you appear to be, this
morning?"

"Oh, yes, indeed. I never felt better in my life. I
don't believe I ever felt as good. I am so happy I can-
not express myself."

"Then you are well enough to have some important
information conveyed to you, and to know something
which will still further increase your happiness?"

"Oh, yes, indeed. I will listen to anything you wish

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 75

to say, for I know it could only be good," and Myrtle
looked inquiringly into the eyes of Mrs. Bell. "But
tell ine how you knew my name. I do not remember
having told you."

"You did not tell me, dear, but since you went to
sleep 1 have learned your whole history, and that from
a very unexpected source. You have nothing to be
ashamed of, but, on the contrary, your destiny is so
high that you will be accounted as one of the most
blessed of women, by reason of the very facts which
have seemed for the time to bring you into misfortune.
You have been in love with an excellent young man
who is now dead, and in the expression of your love for
him, you did something which your uncle and aunt
thought was very disgraceful, and for that they turned
you out of your home. I know all about how you tried
to get work, and how you found the world all against
you, and how you at last tried to find relief in the lake.
I tell you these things so that you will know that I
know all about them, and you may dismiss them from
your mind, for I do not want you to think about them
any more than you can help. I also know who your
father and your mother were, and you have every rea-
son to be proud of them. Your aunt and uncle are
good people, only they have been wrongly taught, and
they are the victims of the false philosophy of the re-
ligion they profess. They thought they were doing
right to treat you as they did. but they were mistaken,
and it is your duty to forgive them, and love them, and

76 LOMA,

perhaps, some time, you may teach them the great and
glorious truth."

"It seemed dreadful for them to treat me as they
did," said Myrtle, "but I could not help feeling that
they were laboring under some horrible mistake all the
time. They liked Albert, and seemed to think that he
was an excellent young man, and I heard my uncle say
once that he was a perfect gentleman. They never
told me anything about what we did, and I was per-
fectly ignorant. I knew Albert would not do anything
wrong and I trusted him. If he had not been killed, I
do not think there would ever have been anything
said."

"You are quite right, my dear, because you would
have been married, and the form of Christian religion
which your aunt and uncle profess teaches that mar-
riage is the only state in which such actions as you
and Albert performed are permissible. If you are mar-
ried, you may do all such things, even regardless of
health and safety, but if you perform that act outside
of marriage, you are forever disgraced in their eyes."

"Then why did they not tell me about it, so I could
have avoided it," exclaimed Myrtle, with some indigna-
tion. "Neither myself nor Albert would have thought
of doing anything of the kind if we had known it was
wrong."

"That is one of the peculiar inconsistencies of Chris-
tianity," said Mrs. Bell. "While they condemn such
actions as the vilest form of sin, and visit the most
condign punishment upon the violators of their very

A CITIZEN OP VENUS. 77

singular code of sexual ethics, they consider it almost
equally vile for any one to impart any information upon
the subject, and some of the best men aud women of
this country have been imprisoned and many more
have been socially ostracized for endeavoring to teach
the truth in regard to such matters. This seems all
the more singular, when you consider that Jesus Christ,
whom they profess to worship as God, and whose
mother they venerate as the most blessed of women, be-
lieved and taught an entirely different doctrine, and
Jesus himself was born as a result of the violation on
the part of his mother of this very same custom."

"Is that what they mean when they say that Jesus
was born of a virgin?" asked Myrtle wonderingly.

"Certainly. Mary, the mother of Jesus, had a
lover, exactly as you have had Albert. Like you they
had indulged in intercourse without marriage. Subse-
quently when Mary was betrothed, according to the
custom of her country, to a man named Joseph, she
was discovered to be in the same condition that you
are now, that is, she was about to become a mother.
Joseph, being a kind-hearted man, did not wish to dis-
grace her, and he was about to break off the engage-
ment privately, when he had a dream in which he re-
ceived the impression that he should not only over-
look her condition, but that he himself would be
greatly honored by becoming her husband. He did
so and became her protector, and when her child was
born he kept it as his own. You are probably familiar
with the rest of the story."

78 LOMA,

"Oh, yes; I have heard it in Sunday school and in
church many times. But they never explain that part
of it."

"No, that is the singular part of it; and while they
worship an illegitimate child, as they term it, they
drive into dishonor and starvation all mothers of sim-
ilar children to-day. Now, my dear, you must under-
stand that here, in this house, you will be taught a
different doctrine. If this were not true, we would
have turned you out last night like all the rest. We
believe in and practice a different form of religion. We
believe that motherhood is the highest and most sacred
duty of woman, and that marriage is simply an ex-
pedient invention of society. We believe that love is
the real law of reproduction, and that as you and
Albert loved each other dearly, that you committed
no crime, but merely violated a social custom of which
you were ignorant. The son, of which you will be
delivered in due time, will be a lovely child, and a
thousand times better in every element which makes
a good man than the average child that is born in wed-
lock. Jesus was an example of the same fact. Now
as Nature sets her seal of approval upon such offspring,
we believe that man has no right to condemn them for
sins they never committed."

"I could not see how it could be a crime for Albert
and myself to enjoy each other, when we loved so dear-
ly," said Myrtle.

"It was not a crime, in fact, my dear, and the worst
wrong which any one has committed has been in leav-

A CITIZEN OF VBNUS. 79

ing you in ignorance and then condemning you, when
you had no chance to even know their sentiment. 1
wish you to get all the idea of guilt out of your mind
as soon as possible. Believe in your innocence and
virtue, and cultivate your self-respect to the utmost, for
you have a glorious destiny. And now, my dear, I must
tell you that a most extraordinary thing has happened
in your case. Do you remember the gentleman who
took you out of the water last night?"

"Not very well. I can only remember that, when I
jumped into the lake, I was immediately seized by a
strong arm, and I was dazzled by what seemed to be an
electric light all around me. I felt something like elec-
tricity go all through me, and then I have a confused
memory of voices and some one carrying me into this
room. I remember you best of all." And so saying,
Myrtle smiled and kissed the hand of Mrs. Bell which
she still held.

"Very well. Then I must tell you that the gentle-
man who rescued you is now in the house as our guest.
He is a distinguished scientist from another country,
and it is through him that we have learned all about
you. This gentleman is of the same religion that we
are, but he is infinitely more advanced; in fact, he is,
without doubt, the greatest teacher now on earth. He
has all the wonderful powers that you have been
taught were possessed only by Jesus Christ and his
disciples. These powers are natural to all men, but few
men become good enough to ever learn to use them.
Now I come to the most wonderful part of my an-

80 LOMA,

nouncement to you. This gentleman, whose name is
Loma, says that you have been destined, from the mo-
ment of your conception in your mother's womb, to be
the mother of a child which shall develop into the
grandest teacher the world has ever known. This child
you are now pregnant with has been conceived by you
at a time when your love for Albert reached its purest
and best expression, and it is destined to be as perfect
as it is possible for a human being to be at this stage
of the world's history. Loma says that your whole
history, up to this time, has been according to a pre-
arranged plan, and that jour meeting last night was
not accidental, but controlled by the same great power
which molds the destiny of the universe. His mission
is to teach you everything that is good and true and
beautiful during the remaining months of your preg-
nancy, and by so doing he will be able to implant in
the forming brain of your child the germs of the great
truths which he is hereafter destined to teach to the
world. Myrtle, my beloved daughter, is it not glori-
ous?"

Unable to control her emotions longer, Mrs. Bell
rose and walked the floor in a transport of sublime
exaltation. Myrtle, who had listened with wonder and
amazement, now sprang from the bed in an ecstasy of
delight and threw herself into the arms of her foster-
mother, crying out, "Oh, mother, my darling mother,
what happiness this is! Oh, Albert! Albert! if you
could but have lived to hear this! Oh, it was not
wrong, it was not wrong! Our love was the truest
guide after all."

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 81

Clasping- the palpitating form of the girl in her arms,
Mrs. Bell rained kiss after kiss upon her forehead and
upon the golden hair, which had become loosened from
its ribbon and now Mowed at will in a bewildering mass
of gold aronnd tin1 queenly head. The loose robe
which enveloped Myrtle's slender form slipped from
her shoulders and fell to the floor. In all her life
Mrs. Bell had never gazed upon a vision of such en-
chanting loveliness as Myrtle presented as she stood
upon the floor, arrayed in nothing but the garb of her
own complete personal beauty.

With a quick movement of her left hand she disen-
gaged the cord which fastened the wrapper she wore
about her own person, and in a moment she also was
without adornment other than her own splendid per-
sonality. Placing her arm around the waist of Myrtle,
she led her toward the east end of the room, which was
composed of two large folding doors.

"Take me to Loma !" cried Myrtle, as she clung to her
benefactress in a transport of joy. "I know that I will
love him and that he will love me."

"LOMA IS HERE!" said a voice, which fell upon
their ears like a deep-toned bell sounding amid the rush
of a cataract of sweet waters. There was a strain of
entrancing music, the folding doors opened noiselessly,
and revealed the conservatory, in the midst of which
stood Loma, with arms outstretched iu an expression of
welcome, his body illumined by the magnetic glow
which seemed to radiate from him in all directions in
the form of a halo of glory. As Myrtle and Mrs. Bell

82 LGMA,

entered the conservatory, the folding doors closed
noiselessly behind them, and Lonia, advancing, em-
braced them. Myrtle felt the wonderful thrill of his
personal contact, and then as his lips met hers, she
closed her eyes and sank upon his breast in blissful
unconsciousness.

CHAPTER VII.

MYRTLE'S FIRST LESSON.

"And it came to pass, that when Elizabeth heard the saluta-
tion of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was
filled with the Holy Ghost."

The introduction of Myrtle into the conservatory,
and her first impression of Loma, had been carefully
planned. Doctor Bell had informed his mother of the
remarkable character of Loma's mission to the earth,
and the important part which Myrtle was destined to
play in the advancement of civilization. With superb
tact, Mrs. Bell had conducted the announcement to
Myrtle of her glorious destiny, and just at the moment
when the delicate and impressionable nature of the
young mother was at the highest point of its receptiv-
ity, the introduction had occurred. That it was in the
highest degree dramatic, and that it was accompanied
with all the accessories of music and the beautiful
scenery of the conservatory, where aesthetic taste com-
bined with wealth had produced the most surpassing
effects, were all elements which combined to impress
upon Myrtle's unborn child the happiest conditions of
organization. Myrtle, as the reader has already been
informed, was in the first period of her pregnancy,
when impressions of physical beauty can be mosl sue-

(83)

84 LOMA,

cessfiilly made. Her association with Loma was de-
signed to impress upon her offspring the most desirable
physical and mental conditions. Loma had been intro-
duced to her as a dazzling vision of human perfection.
Himself the embodiment of all that is good and beauti-
ful in human character, both in physical and mental
attributes, which are always inseparable, and imbued
with a lofty conception of the dignity and grandeur of
his mission to the earth, it is not strange that he should
have glowed with the highest intensity of the mag-
netism which was a part of his glorious nature. In
her first sweet embrace, received from the being who
had traversed the space of worlds in her behalf, Myrtle
received a charge of magnetism which permeated her
whole being and thrilled her in every nerve and cell of
her organization. In an instant of time, the superb
personality of Loma entered into her being and became
incorporated with it, never to depart. In after years
the memory of that sweet moment was sufficient to set
every center of her brain vibrating with intense and
delicious ecstasy. At the same time, the sensitive
embryo within her womb received the impression of
Loma's character, and thenceforth all of his grand
attributes became a part of the nature of the unborn
child. The quickening effect of Loma's magnetism was
such, that, at the moment of contact, the child leaped
in the womb of its mother, and from that time Myrtle
was conscious of its presence.

The conservatory in which this extraordinary event
took place was itself a bower of beauty. It was built

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 85

upon an elevation in the rear of the doctor's residence,
level with the second floor, and connected, as the
reader already knows, with the room in which Myrtle
had slept by folding; doors, which were operated by
electricity. It was also reached by the door at the
head of the stairs in the hall through which Loma had
been introduced. Tt consisted of a broad dome of
stained glass, so arranged that by means of sliding
panels any desired quantity of sunlight could, be admit-
ted or excluded. Artificial heat was supplied from a
furnace in the room beneath, ami cold air connections
enabled the doctor to command any degree of tempera-
ture that might be desired, in any condition of weather.
Tn the center of the conservatory a fountain continu-
ally played and filled the air with the music of falling
water. Rare plants and flowers from all parts of the
world, arranged with that skill which only is exhibited
by those who have long studied the laws of beauty,
shed their delicious fragrance and filled the room with
exquisite combinations of harmonious colors. Adjoin-
ing the conservatory, and really forming a part of it
by an extension, was a music room containing a mag-
nificent pipe organ, a grand piano, and several portable
musical instruments. Doctor Bell had been seated at'
the organ when Myrtle and his mother entered, and
had accompanied their entrance with the subliniesl
strains of which his musical skill was capable. lie
had controlled the movement of the folding doors with
an electric button, at a signal from his mother, and had
been largely responsible for the dramatic effect of the

86 LOMA,

introduction, having received his instructions from
Lorua, as to the effect the latter desired to produce.
He remained at the organ until he finished the march,
when he left it and joined the interesting group at the
fountain. He, also, was entirely nude, and as he joined
his mother, who leaned upon his shoulder with infinite
pride, he presented a striking picture of manly grace
and physical beauty.

Loma held the unconscious form of Myrtle for several
moments in a loving embrace. Then he placed her
upon a couch near the fountain, and pressing one long
kiss upon her brow, stood for a moment contemplating
her with an expression of unspeakable love and tender-
ness. Mrs. Bell and the doctor stood upon the opposite
side of the couch, and gazed entranced upon the exhibi-
tion of beauty before them. Loma's body continued to
glow with his incomparable magnetism, and so great
was its fervor at times that it completely dazzled the
two witnesses. Gradually it subsided until it was
evidenced only by a halo of magnetic glory around his
head. When he had reached this stage, he lowered his
hands, which until this time he had held over Myrtle in
an attitude of benediction. Myrtle opened her eyes
with an exquisite smile.

"Oh, I thought I was in heaven last night, but now
I know I am. You all wear halos, just as I have seen
in the pictures of Christ and the angels. You look like
angels. I am one myself. I am happy. This is Life.
It is Love. I love everything. Everything loves me."

Loma took both of Myrtle's hands in his, and bending

A CITIZEN OF VKNUS. 87

over her iii an attitude of superb grace, spoke iu a tone
which mingled with the music of the fountain in
exquisite harmony:

"Beloved, receive the Truth. Nature is Love's high-
est, sweetest expression, as Love is Nature's supreme
law. Everything which is natural is good. Evil is
only the antagonism and repulsion of that which is
contrary to Love. Humanity must learn to love, be-
fore it can be natural or good, in a complete sense.

"It is impossible to love that which is unnatural. It
is impossible to love completely that which is not com-
pletely revealed. As long as humanity is presented to
the senses in an unnatural way, love is impossible, and
it can never be complete until humanity is completely
revealed.

"The religions of the past have degraded humanity,
and priests and kings have taught that humanity is
vile, in order that it might lose self-respect and be more
easily enslaved. Men and women have been taught to
regard their bodies as vile, and that those members of
the body which were directly used to reproduce human-
ity were especially to be held in dishonor. Men have
been ashamed of their manhood; women have blushed
for the evidences of maternity; all have covered them-
selves with the garb of disgrace. The belief that these
organs and functions were dishonorable has caused
them to be put to dishonorable uses. Men and women
will not cherish and cultivate that which they have
been taught to despise. Because of this fundamental
error, man has received the impression that his mother

88 LOMA,

conceived him in sin and disgrace, and hence he has
not respected his mother nor her sex, but as a conse-
quence woman has been held in slavery to man. This
degradation will continue as long as woman is
ashamed o* her person, or is ashamed of maternity, for
slave mothers never yet produced a race of freemen.

"The long night of slavery, ignorance and supersti-
tion is past. The glorious dawn of liberty is at hand.
You are, at this moment, enveloped in the first rays of
the advancing sunrise of intelligence. The experi-
ences of this moment will never be forgotten by you,
and will be received by your sweet offspring in embryo,
to be by him developed and expanded and transmitted
to a world which is hungry for the Truth. From this
supreme moment you will be proud of your body, and of
the maternity of which it is the beautiful and appro-
priate instrument. Your child will never blush for his
manhood, and he will revere and love the body of his
mother, and through her, the body of all that humanity
it is his mission to bless.

"Nature has scourged humanity with a long train
of frightful diseases, caused by the reabsorption of the
excreta, thrown off by perspiration, which is absorbed

by the unnatural clothing so universally worn and

reabsorbed by the skin. The covering of the body has

made it unduly sensitive to changes of temperature,

and many of its sweetest and best powers have been

lost. Men have become careless as to cleanliness, for

it has been easier to cover filth than to remove it.

Frightful and distorted fashions have been invented

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 89

and the original beauty of the form has been destroyed,
But the worst and most degrading fact, in the whole
train of calamities, is the false conception of human
nature which has taken the place of the true standard
of manhood and womanhood. The children of men do
not know what a true man or Avoman is, and hence
they form no true ideal of character, and do not strive
to attain to any. The conception of womanhood which
exists in the minds of most men, is a dress, a face and
a bonnet. With equal force it may be said that most
women think of a man as a cloth suit, surmounted by a
face and a hat. True manhood and womanhood lies
buried beneath the product of the tailor and the dress-
maker. Until manhood and womanhood can be re-
vealed in its completeness no conception of it can be
formed by the fathers and mothers of the coming
generations, and a correct generation is impossible.

"Generation can only be accomplished by the trans-
mission of magnetism. This transmission is accom-
plished by personal contact, at the time of conception,
and during gestation. It is impossible to completely
transmit magnetism when the bodies of the parents
are insulated in clothing. Yet most of the conceptions
of humanity on this earth take place when the parents
are at least partially robed, and under the cover of
darkness, when it is impossible for a true conception to
result, hence most men are only fragments of the
humanity they misrepresent.

"Conception is not confined to I he lime of the im-
pregnating intercourse. The mother receives new im-

90 LOMA,

pressions daily from those with whom she comes in
contact. Unless she receives impressions constantly
from the free and untrammeled forms of good men and
women, she cannot endow her offspring with their
attributes. Unless she is free and untrammeled her-
self, her capacity for receiving magnetic influence is
destroyed.

"Rise, beloved, and enjoy your liberty. Embrace
those who, like yourself, have passed beyond the de-
grading influences of conventional laws and customs,
and who are pure, as their thoughts and motives are
pure. In these delightful surroundings, and amid
these sweet and pure associations, submit your own
fair body to the reception of the germs of truth it is
my mission to implant !"

So saying, Loma raised Myrtle from the couch, and
embracing her and imprinting upon her lips a raptur-
ous caress, delivered her to the no less enthusiastic
and affectionate congratulations of the doctor and Airs.
Bell. Love reigned supreme, and mingling with the
perfume of the flowers and the music of the fountain, in
one delicious harmony, was the exquisite aroma of
human magnetism in its highest and best expression.

When the first enthusiasm of this transcendent
experience had in part subsided, the doctor arranged
four luxurious easy chairs near the fountain, and the
four friends, who were so closely united in the develop
ment of a higher civilization, held an earnest conversa
tion. Notwithstanding the exciting experiences she
had passed through so recently. Myrtle's mind was

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 91

well balanced, and while she was only beginning to
realize her high destiny, she was neither unduly
exalted nor in any manner removed from the sweet
womanliness which was a very conspicuous part of
her character. She received the caresses of her friends
with a hearty reciprocation of affection, but she also
] deserved her dignity, and when Loma made any sug-
gestion, he found in her an attentive and earnest
listener.

"I love to hear you talk," she said to Loma. "1 do
not think I have ever met any one like you. You seem
to be like a person from another world."

"I am from another world,'- replied Loma, and in a
few brief sentences he conveyed to her the information,
which is already in the possession of the reader, regard-
ing his origin. Myrtle accepted his statement as a
matter of fact, for his extraordinary character and the
peculiar impression of truthfulness which was a part
of his manner left no room for doubt.

"This is all so new to me," she said to Loma after a
pause, "that I am not sure that I fully comprehend it.
Of course it is all so different from what I have been
taught. Now that I comprehend that everything that
1 learn from you will be implanted in the brain of my
child, I am anxious to have a clear impression. I
understand from your statements, that it is natural
to be nude, and that we are unhealthy because we are
not. lint how is such a custom to be maintained in
this climate? Do the inhabitants of Venus remain in
a nude state at all times?"

92 LOMA,

"In tropical countries, on this planet," said Loraa,
"the natives who live naturally, remain nude most of
the time, and spend a great deal of time in the water.
Man is originally a native of the tropical zone, and it
is only as he has moved north that the necessity for
clothing became apparent. His excursions were first
of a limited extent, and of short duration, and he
availed himself of the covering of the skins of beasts,
to protect him from temporary discomfort. Subse-
quently, as he increased the extent of his excursions
northward, he allowed the habit to become fixed and
disregarded the law of nature that would have pro-
vided him with abundant natural protection, if he had
been content to go more slowly and allow his body
to become adapted to the climate. It is true, thai
when the continent of South America was explored,
whole tribes of natives were found at the extreme
southern extremity, where the climate is much more
rigorous than is the climate of Chicago, who were en-
tirely nude at all seasons of the year and who enjoyed
excellent health. The advent of Christian mission-
aries wrought a sad change in the condition of these
natives. They were persuaded to adopt the custom
of wearing clothing, and in a short time hundreds of
them died with consumption and various forms of
catarrh. The almost universal prevalence of catarrh
in this climate, and the hundreds of deaths from con-
sumption, are due to the same cause. Until jour people
learn to expose the body and allow the skin to have
its natural action, you cannot become clean. The ex-

A CITIZEN OF VENDS 93

creta which is thus arrested is reabsorbed and most
be thrown out of the body in some other way. The
lungs and the mucous linings of the various canals of
the body become overtaxed, and the result is the
numerous and offensive diseases which afflict mankind.
In Venus we have advanced to that degree of civiliza-
tion that the energies of men and women are not
absorbed in the conquest of land or finances. We have
a limited population and we inhabit only the best
climates, and as we have abundant leisure for enjoy-
ment, we are habitually nude. If it becomes necessary
for any purpose to expose the person to the rigors of
an unaccustomed climate, a sufficient protection is
worn, but such conditions rarely occur, and are only
experienced by the adventurous portion of the com-
munity who desire to make explorations, or those who
are engaged in transportation. The regular apart-
ments of dwellings, workshops and other places of
habitual resort are all kept at such a temperature as
is approximately the mean average temperature of the
atmosphere. Under such conditions the body is
allowed its full liberty. We are universally a healthy
people, and disease is regarded as a disgrace."

"My experience as a medical practitioner has con-
firmed all that you say," said Doctor Bell, "and I must
give my excellent mother here the credit for having
first called my attention to it. This doctrine is not
taught in the medical colleges, but I have always been
able to cure catarrh and incipient consumption when-
ever I could persuade a patient to live in pure air, in an

94 LOMA,

equable temperature, aud be habitually uude aud prar-
tice bathing to the fullest extent. Our sanitariums
benefit patients very greatly by energetic baths, mas-
sage and various forms of exposure, but it is only
recently that these methods have had any standing as
therapeutic agents."'

"The hardest thing that I have encountered in my
efforts to introduce this practice," said Mrs. Bell, "is
the apparent impossibility of persuading patients to do
enough of it. Patients do not like to be alone, and
they cannot be persuaded to be nude in a sociable way.
If men and women could recover from the awful sense
of shame which seems to beset them when they are
exposed to the view of others, it would not be difficult
to insure healthy conditions."

"I have always been taught," said Myrtle, "that this
sense of shame was natural, and that it was the chief
guard of virtue, and that if I did not have it 1 was very
immodest. I must confess, however, that I could never
see any good reason for it, and if it were so, why should
babies be exposed. Mothers are always proud of the
chubby arms and legs of their babies, and frequently
expose their beautiful bodies to the admiring gaze of
their friends of both sexes, and no one thinks it is
wrong. But these same mothers would be awfully
ashamed to expose themselves in the same way. And
I have noticed another peculiar thing. Young girls,
who would faint if their gentlemen friends saw them
in their underclothing onl}T, will go in bathing in suits
that are made on a pattern that exposes more of the

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. ' 95

body than the underclothing docs and think nothing
of it. They expose their breasts and arms in full
evening dress, but are filled with consternation if a
tear in another style of dress should expose half as
much of the person in the same locality."

"The exposure of the person," said Loma, "is entirely
a matter of fashion. As soon as it becomes fashion
able to wear a style of dress which last year was con-
demned as indecent, the devotees of fashion are eager
to adopt it. Let the enlightened conscience of a people
declare that it is unfashionable to wear health-de-
stroying clothing, and as soon as people became accus-
tomed to it, you would hear no more of this false
modesty. True modesty consists in being ashamed of
that which is wrong. If the sense of shame were
naturally associated with the condition of nudity, chil-
dren would manifest it as soon as they began to be
conscious of their surroundings. As a matter of fact
they do not until they are chided and shamed into
manifesting it, and it generally takes some time to
establish it then. There are some sensitive natures
which seem to show it very early, but they are the
offspring of mothers who were ashamed of the condi-
tion of maternity, and such offspring usually pass
through the world apologizing for their existence.

"The most remarkable fact in this condition is the
strange prejudice with which people of all religions
founded upon the Bible view the subject. The Bible
contains abundant authority for the defense of habit-
ual nudity, and it is strange fchat some vigorous

96 LOMA,

expounder of so-called sacred history has not immortal-
ized himself by exposing the true meaning of certain
well-known passages. The circumstances of the plant-
ing of germs of thought for the advancement of civiliza-
tion are well recorded in the Bible if the correct inter-
pretation were understood."

"Do you mean that this process has been repeated
before, and that other citizens of Venus have visited
this earth for this purpose?" asked Myrtle, wonder-
ingly.

"Certainly," said Loma. "Every important advance
in civilization on this earth has been brought about in
this way. In every case, it was necessary for the par-
ties to be brought together in a nude state, just as we
aire, for it is impossible for the communication to be
made when the magnetisms of the communicants are
insulated in clothing. To receive a communication of
this kind, it is necessary for the parties to be in a
state of perfect purity, and to have their minds above
all forms of disagreeable, indecent and lascivious
thought. As soon as the element of lust is present,
the communication is destroyed. It is not always
necessary for the whole person to be nude in order to
get a communication of minor importance, but if the
communication is of great importance, nudity is essen-
tial, because it is necessarj^ that there should be a
complete and powerful transmission of magnetism.
Only those persons who have attained to such a degree
of magnetic perfection that the rays are intense and
highly visible are capable of being translated from one

A CITIZEN OF VENTS. 97

world to another, or of making the sublime impression
which is necessary to the transmission of germs of
thought. The magnetic glow which you see at limes
radiating from my person is the badge of my office, and
the evidence of my fitness for my mission. When T
am engaged in some great effort you see that the glow
becomes intense. When the effort is less intense the
glow diminishes, but it is never entirely absent. My
translation from Venus to the earth was accomplished
over an electrical conduit, one end of which was at
the summit of the mountain of Alusia in Venus and the
other in the end of Lake Michigan near Chicago. When
T caught our beloved Myrtle from the lake, I was in a
glow from my transit, which made the doctor think
I was using an electric light. You have seen a similar
exhibition of its power here to-day. If I should ap-
proach you at such a time when you are arrayed in
your customary clothing, the resistance to my magnet-
ism would be so great that an intense heat would be
generated which would burn your clothing and prove
fatal. When you are nude, as I am, the transmission
of the magnetic current is uninterrupted, and you are
not injured, but on the contrary delighted and strength-
ened. In Venus, the transmission of pure and highly
cultivated magnetism is the highest art of social inter-
course. It is not necessary for me to argue with you
that this can only be attained while the parties are in
a state of perfect health and the correct use of all their
faculties. Xow, if you will bring me a copy of the
Bible, 1 will call your attention to certain passages

98 LOMA,

which are more or less familial' to you, but upon which
I shall be able to throw some new light."

Doctor Bell withdrew from the conservatory for a
moment, and quickly returned with a copy of the Bible
in his hand. Loma received it and opened it while
his three auditors drew near with breathless interest.

CHAPTER VIII.

NEW LIGHT ON THE BIBLE.

"Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness
of speech."

"The first instance of a communication between this
planet and Venus which is recorded in the Bible,'' said
Loma, as he opened the book, "is found in the second
chapter of Genesis. The story of Adam and Eve in
the garden of Eden, while subject to a great many
erroneous impressions among- those who accept it liter-
ally, as here recorded, is far from being the myth
which it is considered by some. The real facts are
these. Adam and Eve were two highly cultivated and
advanced persons who had been selected and trained,
by the powers who have selected us for a similar pur-
pose, to be the receptacles of germs of advanced
thought. For that purpose they were isolated in the
garden, and were delightfully cared for and educated,
by persons selected for that high office, as you have
been for the education of Myrtle's offspring. In order
that they might be pure, healthy and happy, they had
been nude from childhood. The story opens in this
chapter, at the time when the representative of ad-
vanced civilization from Venus began to communicate
willi them. In the Bible this personage is called the

(99)

100 LOMA,

Lord God, because he represented to them a guardian
of all good. The words literally mean, 'Ruler for
Good.' Adam and Eve continued to receive his com-
munications and to live in happiness and purity. The
Bible says :

"'And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and
were not ashamed.''

"They had not reached the time when sexual inter-
course was permissible, for under the laws of nature,
properly understood, the sexual act must be prefaced
by a long period of culture, in order that it may be in
the highest degree enjoyable, and that the best results
may flow from it. The 'serpent' spoken of in the third
chapter was one of the inhabitants of the earth, of the
lower strata of society, who was fascinating in manner,
and 'more subtle than any beast of the field.' He
invaded the garden and succeeded in seducing Eve,
and in arousing her passions to an extent which ren-
dered her desirous of continued intercourse. Her se-
ducer having departed, to obtain relief, she appealed
to Adam and succeeded in inducing him to share in her
unholy pleasure. This intercourse, participated in by
them prematurely, for the mere gratification of desire,
and not for its high and legitimate functions, caused
a serious weakening of all the functions of the sexual
organs, producing disease, and so changed their ap-
pearance that Adam and Eve became frightened, and
thus discovered that the 'fruit of the tree,' that is the
fruit of their unholy intercourse, was to give them a
knowledge of the difference between good and evil, for

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 101

whereas they had up to this time lived perfectly vir-
tuous lives, and hence knew not the effects of evil, this
unfortunate action showed them the consequences of
a violation of Nature's law. Realizing, in part, the
consequences of disobedience, and afraid to meet their
instructor and friend in a condition which they knew
he must detect, they hid themselves and resorted to
fig leaf aprons. The consequence of this disobedience
was, that they lowered their mental and moral status
to such a degree that it was impossible for them to
fulfill the high mission to which they had been called,
and they were rejected, and sent out of the garden,
and were compelled to associate with their fellow men
and women on an equal plane. Hence, thereafter, they
were compelled to toil for a living, and eat bread in the
sweat of their faces."

"How very interesting," exclaimed Doctor Bell.
"There are a number of cases of similar communica-
tions related in the Bible," said Loma, "but the cir-
cumstances are not always set forth in detail. One of
the best, however, is this one in the third chapter of
Exodus, in which one of our citizens was sent to
instruct Moses, to prepare him for the movement which
resulted in the exodus of the Jews from Egypt, which
has had as much to do with the advancement of civil-
ization as any event in the history of the world. In the
second verse 0f this chapter, it says:

"'And the Angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a
flame of fire out of the midst of a bush, and he looked,

102 LOMA,

and behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was
not consumed.'

"You, of course, understand why the bush was not
consumed by the magnetic glow, which emanated from
the person of the 'Angel,' which was mistaken by Moses
for fire. But mark the sequel :

'"And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see,
God called unto him out of the midst of the bush and said,
Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am /.'

"'And he said, Draw not nigh hither; put off thy shoes
from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is
holy ground.''

"Moses, according to the custom of shepherds in
that climate, was already nude, except shoes or sandals
for the feet, and the inference is, that he lost no time
in obeying the warning, for he was afraid, and he hid
his face. The incident, however, shows that nudity is
a necessity in such communications, for the reasons I
have already stated. It is amusing, however, to see
that 'The Lord' does not tolerate the wearing of cloth-
ing in his presence, and then see the efforts made by
those who profess to be his followers to claim that it
is necessary to decency. It simply shows that those
who attempt to interpret the Bible as a system of wor-
ship and theology have entirely mistaken the nature of
the persons who have from time to time appeared as
'The Lord' and as 'Angels,' and that their whole system
of interpretation, theology and morals is rotten and
utterly unfounded on fact.

"Passing over numerous other instances found in

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 103

the Old Testament, we come to one which more nearly
concerns us, as it furnishes the immediate precedent
for my own mission, and was accomplished under very
similar circumstances. I allude to the case of Jesus
Christ.

"In the highest and best sense, Jesus was the son
of God. But since the beginning of time, God has
never violated a natural law to accomplish the designs
of His creation. He always works according to His
own great eternal principles, and in the case of Jesus,
while the circumstances of his conception and birth
are marvelous to the mind of man, who does not com-
prehend the extraordinary conditions which accom-
pany the transmission of germs of good influences from
precedent planets to suceeedant ones, yet, in every case,
natural laws are obeyed.

"Before you can comprehend the extraordinary char
acter of the conception and birth of Jesus, you must,
know that this tremendous presence which men wor-
ship under different names as God, is the great, univer-
sal creative Energy, which molds the destinies of stars
and planets with the same unerring righteousness
with which it deals with the growth of vegetation and
the evolution of animal life. With the first glimmer-
ings of reason, man realizes his dependence upon this
power, and he personifies it, ascribing all his good
fortune to the beneficence of a Good spirit and all of his
troubles to an Evil one. As he advances in intel-
ligence and lea ins, thai everything in nature is good,
;i ii<] thai his troubles are only Ihe corrective influences

104 LOMA,

of goodness toward him, he eliminates the devil from
his theology and learns to cast himself trustfully upon
the goodness of an Infinite Heavenly Father, whose
best expression conies to him in the natural processes
of the universe which surrounds him. It is natural,
therefore, that he should forever keep in his mind a
high conception of a Great Power which is infinitely
good, infinitely just, omnipresent, omnipotent and om-
niscient.

"The higher man advances in the scale of intel-
ligence the more perfect becomes his knowledge of his
Creator. He learns to divest Him of the puerile at-
tributes of the personality with which he first ex-
pressed his conception of God, and to acknowledge his
inability to define the Infinite. When he has reached
this stage he is ready to study God as He reveals him-
self in Nature, and then it is that he begins to be able
to comprehend the working of the great law of inter-
planetary transmission. I will briefly explain the
working of this law, by saying that every good and
perfect gift, originating with the center of Creative
Energy, is transmitted by it to every super-solar center,
by them to solar centers, and from them to their attend-
ant children, the planets and satellites. The universe,
filled with starry constellations, thus becomes a grand
machine for the distribution of the unfathomable good-
ness of God, and all that man should do, instead of
disputing over dogmas and doctrines, is simply to look
above him, and hold out his hands to receive to the
limits of his capacity the blessings which will come as
the reward of his faith and expectancy.

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 105

"In Venus we have reached this stage. We do not
have any churches or priests to quarrel over disputed
doctrines. We have learned to seek the kingdom of
God and His righteousness, by living perfectly natural
lives. Recognizing that God is Love, we have learned
the science of love and practice it. And when, in the
course of nature, an extraordinary wave of Love, com-
ing down from the center of Creative Energy, reaches
us, we have learned to recognize it and to accept it.

"Jesus Christ was the product of such a wave. The
same wave of Infinite Love which produced such mar-
velous effects upon this planet at the birth of Jesus,
permeated the entire universe with beneficent effects.
But you must realize that upon a world as far
advanced in growth as our sun, the conditions of life
and growth are as far in advance of our conditions as
the radiation of his superb magnetism exceeds in
power that which we may receive from another planet
of our own solar system. Compare the heat and light
developed by magnetism received by this planet from
Venus with that developed by magnetism received
from the sun, and you have a fairly accurate idea of
the difference in the conditions of life and growth
on the two spheres. Grand as are our conditions upon
Venus, as compared with conditions existing upon this
earth, xvt we realize that there1 are conditions yet to
be reached in the progress of growth that are as entire-
ly beyond our present comprehension as the glory of
the sun is beyond the comprehension of the human
eye. We do not, therefore, attempt to explain the

106 LOMA,

methods by which God deals with His children, but
accept His mercies with simple, child-like faith. This
faith, however, gives us the power to reach a better
comprehension of the natural phenomena that accom-
pany the manifestations of the extraordinary impulses
of His goodness that we from time to time receive.

"To explain, therefore, the natural phenomena at-
tending the conception of Jesus, I will say that just
previous to that conception an extraordinary impulse
of Divine goodness was transmitted to Venus through
Mercury and the sun, which culminated in the most
marvelous growth of the virtues among the inhabit-
ants of our planet. In fact, we passed into a condition
which has been quite accurately described by the writ-
ers of your sacred books as the millenium. The mil-
lenium spoken of in the Bible is at hand, and the
mission of Myrtle's offspring is to introduce it, and
when it has worked out its grand results, it will send
the germs of its goodness onward to Mars and the
succeeding planets beyond the earth. Now, when this
wave of goodness reached its height on Venus, all of
its best and highest impulses were crystallized into
the organization of a superbly perfect man named
Manrolin, who was selected as the bearer of these influ-
ences to the earth, and he became the 'Angel of the
Lord' who appeared to Mary, announced his mission
and secured the conception by her of the greatest
character in the history of the world.

"I have said that in the highest and best sense
Jesus was the son of God. He was the natural son of

A CITIZEN OF VENUS 107

Manrolin, who represented in his personality the direct
concentration of an extraordinary impulse of goodness
from God, transmitted through the natural channel.
Manrolin was the male vehicle of the germ of goodness,
as Mary was the female receptacle. The product of
their union was the first perfect man who ever
appeared upon the face of this earth. In his perfection
of humanity he was the representation of G-od to man,
as the highest conception of God which can be formed
in the human mind is perfect goodness, and (his Jesus
thoroughly typified. In so far as he was born of an
earthly mother, he was earthly and human, as that
word is applied to the inhabitants of this planet. In
so far as he was the result of a conception of a germ
borne to Mary from sources beyond the earth, he was
suiter-human but not super-natural. He brought to
the world the essentials of a complete philosophy
which has never been successfully attacked. After
passing through his remarkable history on this planet
he returned to the source of Eternal Goodness from
whence he came, and as a consequence of his success
ful performance of his mission now 'sitteth on the right
hand of God,' by the operation of a perfectly natural
process which it is my delightful duty to explain to
you at a future time.

"In the first chapter of the Gospel according to St.
Luke the circumstances of the conception and birth of
-Icsus are set forth with as much fidelity as could be
expected of a narrator who wrote many years after
the occurrence of the facts he relates, with a vivid

108 LOMA,

imagination, somewhat inflamed with religious zeal.
It will be seen that the communication was given by
an 'angel of the Lord,' and tradition gives us a descrip-
tion of this personage, as he was probably described
by Mary In the paintings produced by devout artists
this 'angel' is represented as a man of great personal
beauty, surrounded by the magnetic halo, which was
undoubtedly true. The inference from this chapter, as
related by Luke, is, that the communication was made
to Mary when she was in bed, and nude. The facts of
the case, as related in the histories used in Venus, are,
that Manrolin was intrusted with this delicate mission,
and came to the earth at the time of the conception of
Jesus, and managed it with consummate wisdom and
skill. First he introduced himself to Mary, as record-
ed in this chapter, and finding her in bed, and nude,
he gave her a communication with such superb mani-
festations of power that he completely won her con-
fidence.

"'And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord,
be it unto me, according to thy word.''

"Having thus completely secured the affections and
cooperation of Mary, Manrolin presented his creden-
tials and assured her that he was the man whom God
had selected as the father of the coming prodigy, and
they being complete complements of each other's
natures, love at first sight was a natural consequence.
In this way Manrolin produced the conception of
Jesus, and the rest was a comparatively easy task.
Joseph, who was in every way fitted to become the

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 109

protector and guardian of the child and his mother,
was selected for that office, and only required one visit
from Manrolin to secure his hearty cooperation. It
frequently happens that the person who is selected ns
the father of a child is not permitted to raise it, as
many persons who have the gifts required in a certain
character it is desired to secure are not fitted for the
responsibilities of child culture. It was so in the case
of Jesus, and was so decided in the case of Myrtle's
offspring. Joseph, however, being a man of advanced
ideas, accepted the trust and discharged it with great
fidelity, and with the cooperation of these parties,
Manrolin succeeded in implanting in the offspring of
Mary and himself the seeds of the brilliant and humane
philosophy which was afterward preached with such
fervor and success by Jesus. The teachings of Jesus
are the purest and best the world has had up to the
present time, and have been the source of great prog-
ress, but have often been obscured by the distorted
use which has been made of them by political ma-
chines, known as churches. In all ages, however, since
his triumphant mission, there have been those who have
comprehended and taught some of the true doctrines
inculcated by him, and Manrolin's success won for him
an enviable immortality in the annals of illustrious
achievements. So great was his success, that his sou
and protege, Jesus, was enabled to attain to the
eminence of being himself translated, and came to
Venus at the close of his illustrious career on earth,
where he was received with the greatest enthusiasm
and where he finished his life in great felicity."

110 LOMA,

"It is commonly believed," said Doctor Bell, "that
Jesus died upon the cross at the time of his cruci-
fixion, at least by those who do not accept the Bible
version of his death and resurrection."

"Neither of the commonly accepted beliefs in regard
to the resurrection of Jesus are true," said Loma.
"The facts are, that Jesus, when he had suffered upon
the cross for several hours and mastered all the depths
of human sensation and misery, which was necessary
discipline, being a master of hypnotism, induced in him-
self the condition of catalepsy, which so closely resem-
bles death that the Roman soldiers were completely
deceived. None of the wounds inflicted on hi m were
fatal, and after his supposed dead body had been deliv-
ered to Joseph, he was placed by the latter in the
sepulchre, where he remained until the third day. At
this time he recovered from the catalepsy and was
released from the sepulchre, and appeared to the dis-
ciples as stated in the Bible. He subsequently depart-
ed for Venus, in the sight of a number of persons, as I
hope you will have the privilege of seeing me take my
departure when the time comes. Jesus succeeded in
developing a great deal of magnetic power before his
crucifixion, and at one time held a consultation with
two distinguished men from our planet, who met him
on top of a high mountain, at which time his powers
were tested, but were not deemed sufficient to attempt
the flight. Subsequently by the discipline incident to
his sufferings he developed the powers of his mind to
such an extent that he was able to evolve sufficient

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. HI

magnetism to accomplish the wonderful results which
marked the close of his earthly history. If the true
facts iu regard to the life of Jesus were known, man
would learn the value of discipline. The grandest acts
in the history of the world have been performed by men
and women who developed the ability to perform them
by the discipline of great sorrows. Inactivity and self-
indulgence are the greatest destroyers of mental power.
The circumstances of this test are related in the ninth
chapter of the Gospel of Mark, and the men were mis-
taken by the disciples for Moses and Elias. They were,
in fact, two of the distinguished electricians of our
planet, who had managed the translations of Man-
rolin, and who succeeded admirably with Jesus, a few
days after his crucifixion. They were also largely in-
strumental in aiding him in his recovery from the
catalepsy, and w7ere the two men in shining garmeuts
mentioned in the twenty-fourth chapter of Luke.
These gentlemen succeeded in producing some pecu-
liarly brilliant electro-magnetic phenomena, in connec
lion with Jesus, on various occasions. At the time of
the so-called transfiguration, and at the baptism of
Jesus by John, they succeeded in establishing the first
telephonic connection betwreen this world and Venus,
and on both of these occasions the venerable Manrolin,
who had returned to Venus long before, was permitted
to send his voice reverberating though many million
miles of space, exclaiming with all the fervor of his
great paternal love and solicitude, 'This is my beloved
son, in whom I am well pleased.' It may interest you to

112 LOMA,

know that Manrolin lived twenty years after Jesus
reached Venus, and that the closing years of his life
were enriched by his society. Jesus himself lived
about seventy years in Venus after reaching society
in which he was appreciated.

"So you see, my dear Myrtle," said Loma, affection-
ately, as he concluded this remarkable narrative, ''the
occurrences you have been taught to regard as the
most wonderful and miraculous in the history of the
world are susceptible to a perfect solution under natu-
ral laws. I am anxious that you should receive this
fact as a permanent impression, for your child can
never be the teacher or philosopher we desire him to
be unless you succeed in liberating him from the last
vestige of belief in the supernatural. Nature is suf-
ficient. There is nothing supernatural, and there is
no need for it."

"I am thoroughly convinced of that," said Myrtle,
"and I am sure my child will be free from everything
which can in the least enshackle his reason. But tell
me, has any one else ever attained to the degree of
eminence necessary for translation, and is there any
hope that my child could progress to that degree?"

"There is every hope," replied Loma, "and one of the
inducements you may hold out to him is the great
reward which awaits him if he proves faithful to his
trust. Adam and Eve could have attained to transla-
tion if they had not permitted unholy lust to mar their
prospects for further advancement. Several persons
besides Jesus have attained to translation from this

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 113

earth to Venus. Enoch was one, but the circumstances

are not set forth with any degree of detail in the Bible.
Elijah was translated as related in the second chapter
of the second book of Kings, and Elisha mistook the
magnetic glow of the occasion for a chariot and horses
of fire. You will also see in this narrative, that the
translation occurred when Elijah was nude, for his
mantle fell upon Elisha, when he had no further use
for it."

"Taking all of these facts into consideration," said
Myrtle, "I think it is wonderfully stupid on the part of
the ministers of the gospel and others who pretend to
study the Bible exhaustively, that they have not rec-
ognized the fact long ago, that the higher powers which
have caused the events recorded in the Bible to happen
have always recognized the nude state as the only one
conducive to health and happiness. If the churches
would teach this truth, it would not be long before
health and happiness would be the rule, and sickness
and misery the exception. But how much time is
wasted on useless subjects, and no real information
given to the suffering and starving people."

"Exercise patience, my love," said Mrs. Bell. "All
will come to pass in due time. Trvith, like everything
else, must have its growth, and your mission will do
its part toward impelling the world toward that glori-
ous perfection which i! seems is our ultimate destiny."

Loma turned to Myrtle and Mrs. Bell and embraced
them affectionately, saving,

"My treasures, you must now retire to your rooms.

114 LOMA,

and find in blissful repose for one hour, that which
will strengthen memory and enable you to retain all
that you have received. May all good influences be
with you while you rest."

As the ladies withdrew from the conservatory, the
doctor played a beautiful air of his own composition.
The folding doors opened at their approach, and closed
as noiselessly after them as when they entered the
conservatory. Then the doctor arose, and drawing
Loma's arm through his own, conducted his distin-
guished guest to his own bedroom.

CHAPTER IX.

AN UNEXPECTED MEETING.

"Forsivonoss is a virtue born of heaven.
The highest attribute of gods aud men."

When Doctor Bell and Lomn retired to the bedroom
of the former, the auspicious beginning of the series of
impressions which Loma was commissioned to make
upon Myrtle was naturally the topic of their conversa-
tion. The doctor was enthusiastic; Lomn, as usual,
quiet and dignified, but evidently pleased with the de-
velopment of the situation.

"A better woman than your mother, my dear Ed-
ward," said Loma, affectionately and familiarly, "never
lived upon this planet. I heard much of her through
my preceptors, before I left Venus, but I must confess
that they did not more than do her justice. We are
especially fortunate in having such a person to supple-
ment my efforts in behalf of Myrtle's offspring, for it
would be impossible for any one human brain to en-
tirely comprehend the depth and scope of what I have
to impart. Now that I have in some measure realized the
extent of the aid which I may confidently expect from
her and you, I have no doubt of the complete success
of my mission. I am, of course, anxious that my work
should in no degree fall short of that of Manrolin; and

(115)

116 LOMA,

when you comprehend the tremendous influences that
have been brought to bear upon civilization through
the teachings of Jesus, you will understand what an
undertaking lies before me, when I tell you that the
powers expect fully as much, or more, of the present
object of our solicitude."

"It is well that the outside world does not compre-
hend the nature or extent of your undertaking,'" said
the doctor, "else this house would be besieged by a
curious mob, and it is probable that the chances would
be about equal for you to be worshiped as an angel
or crucified, or, what amounts to the same thing in
these times, lynched as a criminal."

"Manrolin had to contend with the same conditions,"
said Loma, "and we must be sufficiently politic not to
allow any untoward circumstance to happen which
could possibly interfere with my purpose. Now that
my most important communication has been made to
Myrtle, I desire that she should have the utmost free-
dom, and I do not wish to weary her with long and
tedious lessons. Whenever I have an impression 1o
make of paramount importance, I will meet her in the
conservatory, under similar circumstances to those of
this day's interview. At other times I desire her
to receive impressions of less importance, in ordinary
conversation, by contact with desirable persons, and
particularly by hearing conversations between us and
those of good abilities who hold contrary views. By
these means she will herself become very much bright-
ened in intelligence and in the scope of her understand-

A CITIZEN OF VENUS.

117

ing. All of this will have a desirable effect upon her
offspring, and I expect much of you and jour mother in
aiding me in earning 0ut those designs. In order to
do this it is necessary that for part of the time I should
adopt some kind of costume., and while I am very
averse to burdening myself with the conventional cos
tumes worn upon your streets, which would, in a meas-
ure, interfere with my health, as well as my comfort,
I must wear something, at least when we go in public,
to avoid the opposition of the vulgar and the ignorant."
"I have already considered that problem," said the
doctor, "and T will endeavor to solve it to your com-
plete satisfaction. 1 have already told you the views
which both my mother and myself entertain upon the
question of nudity. Now I have endeavored as far as
possible to conform to what I consider the best condi-
tions of health and hygiene, and so in this house, after
my professional labors are over, and I have no further
occasion to go out, I am in the habit of being nude as
much as possible. I have, however, found, that, owing
to inherited conditions, my ancestors for so many gen-
erations having violated the laws of nature in this re-
spect, my skin is too sensitive to permit of my being
entirely nude to the extent that you would probably
find agreeable and safe. Moreover, I have induced some
of my immediate associates to follow the same custom
for tlie benefit of themselves, and as some of them are
ladies, and all of them to a greal extenl afflicted with
the absurd fear of being considered immodest if they
appeared before persons of the opposite sex in a nude

118 LOMA,

state, I have effected a compromise which has been at-
tended with the happiest results. I have imported
from China a number of the most elegant silk gowns,
which, being made loosely, do not interfere with the
circulation nor distort the body, and simply serve the
purpose of a covering, which satisfies the vulgar no-
tion of so-called decency, and at the same time pre-
serves the comfort and health of the wearer. I dis-
pense entirely with underclothing while wearing these
gowns, except a suit of the lightest cotton netting,
and those being changed every day, the result is ap-
proximately perfect cleanliness, and at least the most
comfortable and cleanly conditions that can be estab-
lished short of a complete return to natural conditions.
Now I suggest that you make these costumes your ha-
bitual wear, on the street or in the carriage, and at
such times as we have guests in the house who are
unaccustomed to our more radical views. I will to-day
place the bedroom at your disposal, which is on the
opposite side of the hall from Myrtle's, from which
you will have completely free access to the conserva-
tory. On that floor you may be habitually nude, as no
one will ever intrude upon your privacy who would be
objectionable, as my mother and myself occupy these
front rooms, as you and Myrtle will occupy those in
the rear adjoining the conservatory. The only other
person who will come upon this floor without my special
permission is Nora, and as she owes her life to my doc-
trine and treatment in this very particular, you will not
have occasion to consider her. You will notice that

A CITIZEN OF VENUS.

119

she, as well as my mother, wears only a light silk gown
while in the house. Myrtle will adopt the same fash-
ion to-day, and we will all be as comfortable and con-
genial as it is possible to be. In regard to yourself,
I will introduce you" as a distinguished physician who
has spent a great deal of time in the East, and who has
adopted the customs of those countries. You will be
the object of some well-bred curiosity among my
friends, but as I am already regarded as something of a
crank, it will not be considered strange that I have
such a personage in my house. In that way you will
be able to enjoy all the privileges you desire, and also
to meet without reserve such persons as you may de-
sire to bring into contact with Myrtle, which I pre-
sume will only be a select few."

"Admirable, my dear Edward; admirable," exclaimed
Loma. "You have exactly anticipated my wants, and,
as usual, left nothing to be desired."

"Now, I will show you my resources," said the doctor,
opening a large dressing case. "These robes have never
been worn, and as we are about the same height, I
presume these will fit you without alteration. Here
are also several pairs of Chinese shoes, which are more
healthful than our own. Although they treat the feet
of their women shamefully, it seems their lords of
creation show better sense in regard to their own. I
prefer our Indian moccasins, myself, and if you should
desire to wear them, here are several new pairs. I
also have some sandals, which are better than our
shoes, but the thongs with which they are tied on are

120 LOMA,

not comfortable to rue, and they impair circulation, so
I seldom wear thein, except in very warm weather."

"I shall be able to get along excellently with these,"
said Lonia, as he donned one of the richest of the robes
and surveyed himself in one of the mirrors, "but I can-
not say that I believe with the most of your citizens,
that the dress improves the appearance of a man. I
certainly would not have been willing that Myrtle
should have received her first impression of me while I
was thus arrayed."

"It docs not add to your appearance," said the doctor.
"On the contrary, it hides just that much of a person-
ality which must be seen in its entirety to be appre-
ciated. I have often thought that Jesus must have
had this subject in his mind, when he said, 'Consider
the lilies of the field. They toil not, neither do they spin:
And yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory
was not arrayed like one of these? "

"You are right," said Loma, "and if you will read the
next verse, you will be impressed still more with the
fact, that Jesus was striving in some degree to correct
this error. His own raiment was very simple, and at
no time exceeded what you have so generously pro-
vided for me. He wore clothing for the same reason
that I shall wear these gowns, and by so doing post-
poned his crucifixion, until he was ready to endure it,
but he did not hesitate to declare himself, in the very
words you have quoted and what follows:

« 'Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 121

to-day is, and to-morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not

much more clothe you, oh ye of little faith?' "

'■"Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall ice ait/
or. What shall ire drink/ or. Wherewithal shall we he
clothed?

"'(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for
your Hcarenly Father knoireth that ye have need of all
these things.

" 'But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteous-
ness: and all these things shall he added unto you."

"In the light of our recent discussion, these words of
Jesus are very plain," continued Loma. "In his en-
thusiasm, he appeals to the patriotism of the Jews,
which he knew to be one of the strongest influences he
could use, urging them to be different from the Gen-
tiles. He uses the faith they had in their iJod also,
and yet he introduced an appellation which shows how
strongly he implied that all good gifts come from the
eternal source of supply in older planets toward
younger ones. 'Your Heavenly Father knoweth that
ye have need of all these things.' He urges them to
take no thought wherewithal they shall be clothed, for
Nature will provide a covering. It is equally true that
men should not 'take thought' to provide so many
varieties of unwholesome foods and drinks. Nature
supplies an abundance of natural food and drink
in every climate which man should inhabit. Jesus
classes all of these evils together, and in the strongest
language implores his countrymen (<> live naturally.
J I is climax comes in the sublime words of the last

122 LOMA,

verse I have quoted. "The kingdom of God' is the
natural life, in which man lives according to the laws
of the universe. When man comprehends 'his right-
eousness,' which is simply living according to the im-
mutable laws of equity and justice, 'sr. these things,'
to-wit, all the blessings of a natural life, health, wealth,
beauty and happiness, wi?1 ^ I.'..'

"It is wonderful," exclaiinca Doctor Bell, "how priests
and kings and unscrupulous politicians have distorted
those sublime teachings of Jesus into a mass of con-
tradictory rubbish, apparently designed for no purpose
but the stupefaction of the human intellect and the
enslavement of their devotees. I have heard those
verses preached from as texts, by renowned preachers,
many times, but I have never comprehended what was
meant until this moment. Do you suppose, my dear
Loma, that Jesus comprehended and taught the sub-
lime doctrine of the origin of this world which you
unfolded to me this morning, and that he understood
the doctrine of the translation of germs, from parent
stars to their children, and from them to younger gen-
erations?"

"Certainly. He not only understood it and taught it,
but his disciples did also. Listen to this sublime pas-
sage from the Epistle of James, which shows the grasp
he had on this subject, and that he perfectly compre-
hended the condition of the center of all our systems,
the center of our super-solar system, which, as I ex-
plained to you this morning, is the parent of all that
surrounds him, and is therefore at rest, in perpetual

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 123

darkness, cold, and equilibrium, while he diffuses mag-
netism to all bis children. The seventeenth verse of
the first chapter of the General Epistle of James reads
as follows:

" (Every good gift, and every perfect gift is from above,
and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is
no variableness, neither shadow of turning.''"

Doctor Bell dropped into a seat and regarded Loma
with fixed astonishment. "And this is the Bible," he
exclaimed, "which half the Christian w7orld reads with
eyes blinded by an idolatrous trust in the interpreta-
tion of stupid priests, and the other half treats with
complete indifference. Why, the words you have quoted
would not make sense in the light of any other explana-
tion."

"Certainly not," said Loma. "But then, you know,
the priests do not w ant anything to read with sense, for
that would tend to educate their dupes beyond their
control. However, if you will read the whole of the
chapter, you will find that this superb wrriter was one
of the free-thinkers of his period. In the twenty-fifth
verse he says:

"'But ichoso lookcth into the perfect law of liberty, and.
continucth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a
doer of the ivord, this man shall be blessed in his deed.7

"And again, in the closing verse of this chapter, you
will find a sentiment which you, my dear Edward, have
most nobly exemplified, and which yon may sometime
have occasion <<> quote to Myrtle's Presbyterian uncle:

"'Purr religion and undefiled before God and tJic Father

124 LOMA.

is this, To visit the fatherless and the widows in tlicir afflic-
tion, and to keep himself unspotted from the world? "

"Thank you, my dear Loma. I am most happy in
having deserved that compliment, and I assure you that
T shall continue to live according to the noble princi-
ples that have been instilled into me from my youth by
the mother T adore. Now we will appropriate of these
costumes those which blend most harmoniously in
color, and prepare to meet the ladies at dinner, after
which I promise myself the felicity of a drive with all
of you over our incomparable boulevard."

"I shall be delighted to view Chicago," said Loma.
"for I have heard much of it through my instructors,
as it has from the first been regarded as my field of
operations."

"I presume you will find much to criticise," said the
doctor, "for I imagine that your civilization is so far ad-
vanced that much that we endure with complaisance
would be regarded by your citizens as intolerable."

"Perhaps so; but as my mission does not relate to
municipal ordinances, but rather to the inculcation of
those doctrines which will, when comprehended and
taught, elevate the tastes and refine the intellectual
processes of mankind, I do not expect that I will have
much to say on those subjects which are daily discussed
pro and con in your newspapers. For instance, the
whole subject of municipal, and I may add, state and
national government, is embraced in the principle of
social justice, which, when once considered in the light
of advanced intelligence, will lead to the abolition of

A CITIZF/N OF VENUS. 125

every trace of your present form of government, and
the overthrow of your entire social and industrial sys-
tem."

"I can readily see that such a revolution must come
with advanced civilization, and our best minds now
concede that there is a monstrous injustice somewhere,
but as yet no one has been able to formulate a plan
which promises complete relief. Of course, this must be
a matter of growth, like everything else, but I assure
you that I await with some impatience everything
which you will say in my presence, for the experiences
of the last twenty-four hours have awakened me to a
realizing sense of the immense importance of your mis-
sion to mankind, and of the transcendent responsibili-
ties you have imposed upon you, as well as those which
rest upon us, who have been counted worthy to be
your assistants."

Just at this point the doctor was interrupted by a
strain of music, proceeding from a large orchestrion in
the hall below.

"That is the way my steward announces dinner. If
you are ready, we will proceed to the parlor, where the
ladies are awaiting us."

The doctor escorted Loma to the parlor, where they
were met by Mrs. Bell and Myrtle. Both ladies
were arrayed in gowns of the finest Chinese silk, some-
what different in style from those worn by the gentle-
men, but made perfectly loose, and of such colors as
were harmonious with each other and with the com-
plexions of the wearers. Mrs. Bell took the arm of

126 LOMA,

Loma and led the way to the dining room, while the
doctor escorted Myrtle, the orchestrion meanwhile play-
ing a lively march.

The dining room was under the conservatory, and
here also all the details reflected the refined taste of
the owner. Everything was arranged with reference
to comfort, hospitality, and the combination of lights
and colors into one general delightful effect.

It was a happy and a merry party which sat down to
the repast which was served by the doctor's steward
in most approved style. Myrtle was radiant in her
new-found happiness; Mrs. Bell genial and smiling in
the capacity of hostess; the doctor, divided in his ad-
miration for Myrtle, devotion to his mother and en-
thusiasm in behalf of Loma, while the latter was charm-
ing in his courtliness, in gallantry to the ladies, and in
the wit and sparkle of his conversation. The table was
beautifully decorated with flowers, and the dinner con-
sisted of the choicest vegetables and fruits in the mar-
ket, elegantly served and supplemented by a small
roast, of which all partook but Loma, who excused
himself on the ground that meats were not permissible
to him, for reasons which he would explain at another
time.

Occasional bursts of melody from the orchestrion
relieved the conversation, which was itself punctuated
with frequent peals of merry laughter from the quartet
of friends, provoked by some sally of wit from the doc-
tor or Loma, or some bright saying of one or the other
of the accomplished and versatile ladies.

A CITIZEN OF VBNUS. 127

When dinner was over, the friends returned to the
parlor, where conversation was resumed for a half
hour. Then the ladies retired to dress for the ride,
and the gentlemen repaired to their own rooms for
the same purpose.

An hour later they were rolling along the famous
boulevard, in the vicinity of Lincoln Park, behind the
doctor's team of black beauties, in which he took espe-
cial pride. The ribbons were in the hands of Thomas
Flannigan, a young Irishman ^/hose skill in driving
was only equaled by his devotion to the doctor him-
self. The carriage was a. handsome landau, and the
doctor and Myrtle occupied the seat next to that of
the driver, while Mrs. Bell and Loma faced them at the
rear.

The day was drawing to a close and the sun was set-
ting behind the western hills, through a maze of In-
dian-summer clouds. The balmy breezes from Lake
Michigan tempered the heat of the early autumn into a
delightful warmth, which was grateful to the senses
and invigorating to the body.

The four friends were enjoying their ride with all
the exuberance and zest which comes from clear con-
sciences and happy and congenial natures pleasantly
associated. Myrtle's hand nestled confidingly into
that of the doctor as she remarked:

"We are all so happy, and it seems to me that Na-
ture herself is expressing enjoyment in its full fruition
at this time of the year. Why is it that human beings,
who are accounted the most intelligent beings on earth,

128 LOMA,

should be so universally unhappy? Nine out of ten of
the faces we meet are not cheerful."

"Human beings are not as intelligent as they believe
themselves to be,'' replied the doctor. "In proportion
to the volume of brain carried, the average individual
should be able to show more than ten times the amount
of intellectual energy that is actually displayed in order
to compare favorably with the results attained by the
best classes of animals, in their natural state. I at-
tribute this result to our defective education, and the
further fact, that mankind has not yet progressed
sufficiently in the evolution of its faculties to establish
that harmonious co-relation which animals, having a
smaller number, and hence less complicated cerebral
development, have been enabled to reach."

Just at this moment Myrtle caught his arm, saying,
"Oh, Edward, look! There are my uncle and aunt, in
their carriage! They will pass us in a moment. Shall
I recognize them?"

"Certainly, my dear," said Mrs. Bell. "That is, if
you wish to forgive them for the way they have treated
you."

"Oh, I do forgive them!" exclaimed Myrtle. "In my
happiness, I cannot harbor ill will toward any one. I
am sure they did not know what they were doing."

As the carriage containing her relatives approached,
Myrtle leaned forward and smiled and bowed most af-
fectionately to her aunt, who was looking toward her.
The woman recognized her, but without returning the
salutation, turned to her husband and caught his arm.

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 129

He also turned, and recognizing Myrtle in the hand-
some carriage of the doctor surrounded by her friends,
stared in astonishment and frowned. Then giving no
further sign of recognition, they passed on. Myrtle's
eyes filled with tears.

"Never mind, my dear," said the doctor, affection-
ately passing his arm around her waist. "I have rec-
ognized your uncle and know him well. He will doubt-
less call on us in a short time to continue his persecu-
tion of you, at which time we will turn him over to
mother, for a lesson in religion and advanced civiliza-
tion. When she finishes her instruction, he will have
learned several important truths."

Mrs. Bell and Loma smiled, and Myrtle dried her
eyes. Her elastic temperament soon overcame the
depression caused by the slight her relatives had
imposed, and the drive was finished by the entire party
in the best of spirits.

CHAPTER X.

THE PHILOSOPHY OF LOVE.
"These things I command you. that ye love one another."

The life of Myrtle Burnham, after the events detailed
in the preceding chapters, flowed on like the placid
current of an untroubled stream. In the delightful
society of her new environment, her mind expanded,
and as she was no longer bound by the conventionali-
ties of the narrow society in which she had before been
placed, her growth was rapid and sure. In the exer-
cise of her new liberties, however, she was guilty of
no impropriety, and her natural self-poise always as-
serted itself, and the buoyancy of her temperament,
and her rare gifts of intellectual accomplishments,
added to the sweetness of her affectionate nature, soon
endeared her beyond measure to every member of the
household.

Under the wise administration of Mrs. Bell, guided
by suggestions from Loma, Myrtle's time was well oc-
cupied with pleasant occupation and agreeable coni-
pany. She was altogether absorbed in the exalted
mission to which she had been called, and like most
enthusiastic natures, would soon have exhausted her
vitality, if her excellent preceptors had not compelled

(131)

132 LOMA,

her to observe a wiser course. As it was, she usually de-
voted about two hours each morning to special instruc-
tion from Loma in the conservatory, in which delightful
interviews she was generally, but not always, attended
by her devoted friends. It was a part of Loma's plan,
that the doctor and Mrs. Bell should also hear his in-
structions, as he desired that they should become thor-
oughly familiar with his doctrines, in order that they
might be competent to act as instructors to Myrtle's
offspring after he had taken his departure for Venus.
Consequently they were rarely absent from his morn-
ing lessons to his protege, and the morning session in
the "holy of holies," as the doctor called the conserva-
tory, became a delightful experience to which they all
looked forward daily with most pleasurable anticipa-
tions.

In addition to these pleasant sessions for instruction,
much time was devoted to music. The four friends
were all accomplished musicians. Mrs. Bell possessed
a contralto voice of great sweetness and power; her
son was considered one of the best baritones in the city,
and had frequently distinguished himself in concerts
given for charitable purposes, by the elite society in
which he moved. Both were masters of the organ and
piano, and the doctor was also an amateur violinist
of considerable note. Myrtle possessed a soprano voice
of surpassing compass and extraordinary quality, and
it had been carefully trained by the best teachers in

Chicago.

But it is impossible to describe the musical abilities

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. I33

of Lonia. As he had mastered the language aud Hi na-
ture of the earth, before undertaking his great mission,
so he had also mastered music. And in its perform-
ance he not only expressed the abilities of an earthly
musician producing the best effects of the masters in
the stage of the development of the art now known on
the earth, but he added to it much of the beauty and
higher expression he had learned at home. When
joining with his friends in the rendition of some of the
classical music in which they all delighted, he sang the
tenor with the skill and expression of the best earthly
performers. But at their request he frequently sang
alone the melodies of his native planet. At such times
his body glowed with strong emanations of magnetism
and his voice assumed a quality unknown to earth.
His hearers became enraptured to complete ecstasy,
and Myrtle frequently lost consciousness of everything
but the heavenly melody which thrilled her whole
being.

At other times she surrendered herself entirely to
the pleasures of social intercourse. Toward both Loma
and the doctor she became conscious of the most de-
voted emotions of love, arising within her own nature
and craving a free expression. She regarded them both
as representatives of the highest types of manhood,
and whenever they approached her, she felt that each
was impelled by the highest motives of love for her, and
consideration, devotion and purity of intention. In a
short time she learned to treat both of them and Mrs.
Hell with the most hearty expressions and demonstia-

134 LOMA.

tions of affection, which were always warmly recipro-
cated.

On one occasion, when she met Loma in the conserva-
tory, she threw herself into his embrace with more
than usual fervor. She imprinted several ardent kisses
on his lips, and as he sat down beside her on a divan
and affectionately encircled her waist with his arm,
she inquired :

"Tell me why I love to kiss you and Edward so much.
1 never kissed any man but Albert until I kissed you,
and I was always told that it was wrong. But now I
feel and know that it is right, and moreover my nature
seems to crave these expressions of love from those
whom I feel truly love me."

"In the first place," answered Loma, "you are now for
the first time really living in a natural way. Love is
natural, and the unfortunate woman who is not sur-
rounded by those whom she can unreservedly trust and
upon whom she can freely express her affection is
robbed of the sweetest and best food which, nature pro-
vides for growth and development. It is just as nat-
ural for a woman at your age to crave the loving ca-
resses of pure and affectionate men as it is for her to
breathe and to crave the pure air of heaven. You are
fortunate in possessing two loving friends, whom you
can implicitly trust, with whom you may freely indulge
your natural desire. It would be just so much better,
if, instead of two, you had twenty, for love is a thing sus-
ceptible to growth, and the more you love, the stronger
and sweeter it becomes. It is necessary, however, for you

A CITIZEN OF VEXUS. ,__

135

to discriminate, for it wonld not be wise to lavish vour
..ffoct,on on unworthy objects, and von won 1,1 be 'eon-
laminated by their impure association. With the knowl-
edge which I shall impart to yon. however, y„„ will
be perfect 1, safe, tor ,y,„, win ,eam to discriminate
«.th intelligence. Tonr son will also possess this
power, and wherever he goes, he will be surronnded
by pnre and rirtuous women, who will sustain him
<«th their affect ion and caresses as Jesns was s s
tamed bv the delightful friendships which he had with
Mary and Martha, and the man, unfortunate women
whom he rescued from the degradation of their time
There is no question, from the accounts given of Jesus
n the B,bl„, without referring to other sources of au-

' ,"'"• that he 0»"tinuaUy surrounded himself with

good women, and that his affections were gratified by
them m the highest degree.

"There is another reason, however, why yon are more
than usually affectionate at this time," continued Luma
while Ins voice thrilled with peculiar tenderness, "and
hat .a, hat at just this stage of your pregnancy your
< hild ,s forming the rudiments of those portions of his
bnun which preside over the affections and give him
the capacity to have affection himself. At this time
,v«u have an unusual craving for the expressions of
love, and if you were not gratified, your child would
come into this world without the ability ,„ develop
Lose energies which give the sweetest and most at
™-''ve traits - "omaii character. „ h perfecay
« -'M to distinguish be< we,,, , he offspring of loving and

136 L0*IA.

niuch-loved mothers and those who have had but little
desire and satisfaction of these faculties. Those who
love much, and are satisfied by the loving expression of
friends and consorts, develop the posterior portion of
their brain, and the head becomes symmetrical, and
those features of the face, and, in fact, of the whole
body, which are in sympathy with and controlled by
that portion of the brain, become much more har-
monious and beautiful. While the unfortunate off-
spring of mothers who do not call out these demonstra-
tions, by a lack of affection in themselves, or who are
deprived of a natural satisfaction by the coldness and
indifference of those who surround them, are uniformly
lacking in the essential elements of manhood and wom-
anhood. Their heads are badly formed, especially in
the occipital region, and every feature of their un-
fortunate bodies shares the misfortune and reflects
deformity in just the measure that these conditions
of growth have been denied. The eyes are small and
lack luster; the chin is small and retreating, and even
the walk is ungraceful, and the voice disagreeable in
its tone.

"So, my sweet girl, whenever you feel the desire to
give expression to your feelings in these directions, re-
member that we love you, and that it is our highest
privilege to minister to you the gratification which
will not only cause you to thrill with happiness, but
will endow your child with the highest social graces,
and enable him to bless untold thousands who may
fomc within the radiance of his sublime magnetism."

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 137

As a response to this fraternal declaration, Myrtle
• bestowed another rapturous kiss upon Loma's lips, and
Doctor Bell happening to enter the conservatory at this
moment, she ran to him and greeted him with cor-
responding ardor. The doctor placed his arm around
her, and led her back to the divan, where, seated be-
tween himself and Loina, she surrendered herself to the
full measure of their warm and magnetic influences.

"Tell me," she exclaimed, as she entwined her arms
around her friends, and rested her golden head upon
the doctor's shoulder, "why is it that humanity has
never recognized the benefits to be derived from such
loving associations as we have, and why is it so uni-
versally considered to be wrong? Now, my teachings
in the past have been very meager upon all of these
subjects; in fact, I was often reproved for even asking
questions on those topics, but the impression I received
generally was, that it was wrong to let any one kiss me,
and that even in marriage some things would be done
which were mysterious and dark, and which in that
state might be permissible, but were even then to be cov-
ered with secrecy. I know that once or twice my aunt
went to visit some of her lady friends who were said to
be 'in a delicate condition,' and when I asked what that
meant I was reproved, and told to wait until I was mar-
ried, and then I would find out. I never could understand
why, if marriage was the most blessed state in
existence, there should be such an unwillingness to let
us know anything about it. Moreover, when T went
to church, T heard the preacher read a great deal from

138 LOMA,

the Bible commanding the people to love one another.
But it seemed to me that the moment any one tried to
carry the precept into practice, a great scandal arose.
If a married man or woman even expresses a great deal
of love for any one of the opposite sex, by words or writ-
ings, it is considered proof that something is wrong. I re-
member that one of our Sunday school superintendents
was compelled to resign, because a letter which he
wrote to a married lady, who was one of his teachers,
contained the words, 'I love you dearly, and I believe
that 30U are the best woman I ever met. Your kisses
are the sweetest in the world.' Her hubsand found the
letter and he made a commotion, and the lady was dis-
graced and lost her position in society, and the man re-
signed the superintendence of the Sunday school and
left the church. Now, if the Bible is right, and it says
'Love one another,' I do not see why this should have
happened. Another thing I wish you would explain.
We are expected to love our husbands, and yet it is
the prevailing doctrine that a young lady should not
allow any gentleman to kiss her, and even after she is
engaged, she is urged not to allow her fiance* to take
any liberties with her, as it is called. The most that
is considered consistent with prudence is to allow him
a very formal kiss once in a while. I did not see any
good sense in this, and as no one ever gave me a satis-
factory reason, but only a warning command which
seemed to be contradictory to the impulses of my na-
ture, I violated it with Albert. Now I would like to
know, if a young woman is to be thus restricted, how

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 139

she can ever find out whether she really loves a man or
not. It seems to me that love is something which comes
to us by experience, and that the closest possible inti-
macy is necessary to enable any one to decide, whether
it is possible to love the object in view."

"You have stated the case with the ability of a first-
class lawyer, my dear," exclaimed the doctor. "Now,
let us hear what Loma's answer will be."

Loma was thoughtful for a moment, and then began
to answer with earnestness and gravity.

"The trouble is, that love is not as yet understood
upon this planet. Your poets sing of it, your teachers
and preachers prate concerning it, but your citizens
have not as yet comprehended what it is. To under-
stand love it is necessary to study the human constitu-
tion. When we do this intelligently, we find that man
has a large number of mental faculties, each one of
which is devoted to the acquisition of a different kind
of sensation and knowledge. It is the possession of all
of these faculties in a good degree of condition and
capacity which distinguishes a bright and intelligent
man from the idiot. It is the possession of a larger
number of these faculties and a higher degree of educa-
bility which is the principal distinction between man
and the animals by which he is surrounded. Some
animals seem to have only a single faculty, others have
more, but man seems to have more than twice as many
as any animal with which we are familiar. Our best
mental philosophers now estimate the number of facul-
ties possessed by man as sixty-four, and we nave, cor-

140 LOMA,

respondingly, sixty-four departments of knowledge ob-
tainable by man. Each mental faculty possesses four
distinct powers, to wit, attraction, repulsion, satisfac-
tion, and memory. Each mental faculty is derived from
the action of an organ in the brain corresponding to it.
You will also understand that the mental powers of
individuals will vary according to the growth and de-
velopment of the brain and the consequent size and
physiological condition of those organs. Thus one man
has more musical talent than another, because those
organs which relate to music are larger and in better
condition in his brain than they are in the brain of his
less fortunately endowed brother. As a consequence,
he will be more strongly attracted toward good music,
more powerfully repelled from discord, will derive
greater satisfaction from a satisfactory performance,
and will remember more about it. As you are all mu-
sicians, you, of course, understand this.

"I have chosen music as the basis of my illustration,
because it is one of the departments of knowledge which
have been brought to a high degree of perfection on
this planet, and is so universal that it will be more
readily understood. Now, the ability of a man to love
music, and to delight his friends with his performances,
depends, first, upon his possession of the musical facul-
ties; second, upon his education in the art; third, upon
his possession of an excellent instrument of expression ;
fourth, upon his willingness to play, and lastly, upon
the appreciation of his audience. It is not necessary
for me to enlarge upon the fact, that his audience must

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 141

in some degree be as cultured as himself, in order that
the appreciation may be complete, and that the highest
degree of mutual pleasure may be experienced.

"What I have stated as being true of music applies
with equal force to every faculty of man, and to every
department of knowledge which is represented by a
faculty. In order to have a complete man, it is neces-
sary that every faculty should be insured b}7 the crea-
tion of a complete brain. This can be done by comply-
ing with the laws of reproduction. It is only as man
violates these laws that he is punished with offspring
which are fragmentary, and so far idiotic. When a
complete brain is produced, it is then necessary that a
complete education should follow. The education of
the citizens of this planet, at present, is confined to
less than half of the actual capacity of the brain, and
this is so faultily administered that your students get
but little benefit, and your industrial system is so un-
just that the great majority of your children are en-
tirely neglected. Assuming, however, that reform in
education is established, and that your citizens are
completely educated, it is still necessary that each one
should have the largest opportunity for the exercise
of his faculties, by being provided with instruments
and occupation, and that he should have the liberty to
enjoy his powers. WThen these conditions are estab-
lished you will have the highest expressions of good-
ness in all departments of human effort, and the ap-
preciation of the efforts of each individual by his fel-
lows will follow as a matter of course.

142 LOMA,

"It follows, necessarily, that while there will always
be diversity of human character, there will also be
diversity of talent, and diversity in the expression of
the various forms of love of which man is capable. One
individual will love music above all other occupations,
another will love architecture, a third may devote him-
self to mathematics, and so on through the whole cata-
logue. While this is true, there is no reason why all
persons should not be required to reach that degree of
perfection in the social graces which will make them
fit objects for association and affection.

"I will now proceed to answer Myrtle's questions, by
saying, that those faculties which are concerned in the
expression of all forms of personal attachment, are en-
tirely neglected in the curriculum of education, as at
present administered on this planet. It is true, that
man has, as prime faculties of his mental powers, the
faculties which enable him to take cognizance of gen-
der and the act of reproduction, of attachment for off-
spring, animals and parents, of friendship for man and
woman, independent of sexual association, and also the
love of home and the associations of patriotism. The nat-
ural growth and education of those powers would cause
him to experience the largest possible happiness to
himself, and the highest ministration of gratification
to others. Instead of obtaining this development, how-
ever, the selfishness of mankind has produced a distor-
tion of these impulses, into the most barbarous senti-
ments, until the natural language of these faculties has
been almost entirely obliterated, and actions which are,

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 143

in fact, the most outrageous of crimes have come to be
considered the exemplification of the virtues.

"The fundn mental error was the chaining of the re-
productive sense of gender by the institution of polyga-
mous marriage. As long as men and women were free to
choose their sexual affinities, the race improved by the
operation of thelawof natural selection. When marriage
was given enforcement by law, woman was enslaved,
and in a few generations it became an easy matter to
enslave her sons. Consequently, we find in an early
period of the Jewish civilization, from which the present
Christian stage is descended, that a tyrant like Sol-
omon could revel in debauchery with three hundred
concubines and seven hundred wives, while his slaves
toiled at the building of the temple for his glorification,
without any wives at all, and hundreds were even de-
prived of the means of reproduction by mutilation, as
eunuchs.

"The natural sense of justice in man has asserted
itself, until in the later development of civilization the
practice of emasculating men has been discontinued,
and all men are free to have one wife, provided they
are able to persuade one to submit to the relationship.
The idea of the dominion of man over the woman is
still the central one, however, in the Christian form of
civilization, and the barbarous form of marriage is still
practiced, with all of its humiliating and degrading
implications. It is to the infinite credit of your hu-
manity, that it has outgrown the ceremony, and that
it is in a large measure only a mere formality, which

144 LOMA,

society takes for granted will only be considered sub-
ject to the modifications which good sense and the
enlarged liberties of mankind have imperatively de-
manded. However, as long as the present form of
matrimonial obligation is practiced among you, it
will remain as a partial barrier to the development
of correct sexual relations and good morals, because
it continually educates the minds of the people to false
conceptions of duties and privileges, and engenders
jealousy, promotes selfishness, creates wrong desires,
and, worst of all, prevents the development of love.

"The earlier forms of marriage required only the ex-
pression of allegiance and devotion on the part of the
wife to the husband. She became his slave and sur-
rendered all of her liberties to him, hence the pledge
of the woman, to love, honor and obey her tyrant, de-
stroyed in her the ability to discriminate as to what
was lovable, honorable or capable of being obeyed
without sacrificing her own honor. As an abject slave
she was not supposed to consider these things. It was
sufficient for her that her lord and master commanded.
She obeyed. It is easy to see how, in this condition of
things, the selfishness of her master soon dictated to
her that she must not under any circumstances love,
honor or obey any one but himself. Here we have the
origin of the sentiment that it is wrong for a woman
to allow herself to love any man but her husband. The
enslavement of woman naturally led to another disas-
trous consequence. She ceased to become an object
of love to man, except as she ministered to his carnal

A CITIZEN OF VENTS. 145

desires. The idea of love became dissociated from
every relationship but the sexual. Considered solely
as the vehicle for the satisfaction of the inflamed and
unnatural desires of man, the desires having become
inflamed and unnatural through the abuse which
followed the enslavement of woman, she was, of
course, degraded in his eyes, and was considered un-
worthy of education, or participation in any of the
higher walks of life.

"To the infinite credit of your manhood, it is true,
that gradually, though slowly and painfully, it has
struggled from beneath the burden of these errors,
until at this time, in the more enlightened communi-
ties, the proposition to advance woman to full and
complete equality with man is being seriously consid-
ered, and will eventually occur. One by one her privi-
leges have been restored to her, until her condition is
infinitely more tolerable than in the past, but com-
plete results will not be attained until the last barrier
is removed, and she is .recognized as the companion,
and not as the slave of man. She will then become the
mother of a generation of freemen, and the advance of
civilization will be rapid.

"The first step in the line of reform must be the com-
plete emancipation of woman. As soon as this is ac-
complished, and she receives the benefit of her liber-
ties, so that she can think and act with freedom, she
will escape from the present impression that she is
merely the vehicle of man's passions. She will cease

to regard her possession by a man as essential to her
10

146 LOMA,

existence, and she will act independently. The next
step will be the industrial equality of woman, and she
will demand and obtain the same wages as man. Be-
ing by this fact placed in possession of the mastery of
her own person, she will yield it only on. the dic-
tates of love. The best men will then be able to obtain
sexual favors, regardless of money, while those who are
nonattractive, vicious or depraved will be compelled
to go without altogether. In the meantime, the
advancement of woman and the reorganization of the
industrial system will have decreased prostitution to
a minimum, and with the generation of better men and
women and the advancement of education as to the
proper use of the sexual functions, it will eventually
disappear, and there will exist on this planet a greatly
improved type of humanity.

"When humanity reaches this stage of development,
marriage will be regarded as it is in Venus, as a bar-
barous custom of savage nations, as polygamy is al-
ready. Men and women will then begin to study love
as a science, as you now study music. The act of re-
production will not be considered as it is now, the only
basis of association between a man and a woman. Nei-
ther man nor woman will be under a pledge to love one
person to the exclusion of all others, because the fact
will be generally recognized, that such a pledge is de-
structive of morals, and is practically the suicide of the
love faculties. Such a pledge will then be regarded as
you would now regard the pledge of a musician to play
only one tune. Whenever civilization advances beyond

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 147

the selfishness of man, the principle will be recognized
that the largest growth and the grandest expression of
human life is in universal love.

"When Jesus commanded his followers to love one
another, he meant exactly what he said. It is not only
the right but the duty of every sane man and woman
to cultivate and express love for as many individuals
as possible. The larger the number of lovers, the richer
becomes the life. This does not mean promiscuous
love, nor promiscuous sexual association, but it does
mean the largest possible freedom in social intercourse.
It means that if a woman loves a man, or a man loves a
woman, that they should have the privilege of meeting
as often as they please, where and when they please,
and expressing their love for each other in any lan-
guage they choose, whether it be spoken, written or ex-
pressed in kisses, caresses, or merely friendly greet-
ings. This right is inalienable, according to all dic-
tates of sound public policy, and any contract which
deprives a man or woman of this liberty is void. Un-
der your present conditions, if a man and woman meet
each other freely, or a married man or woman is seen
to any great extent with some other person of the other
sex, you assume that they have met for sexual inter-
course, and a scandal is the result. This is greatly
augmented if there is the slightest evidence that they
have kissed or caressed each other. All of this grows
out of the degraded conception of love which has been
forced on the human mind by the fact that man has
been trained to regard woman as solely an object for

148 LOMA,

the expression of sexual passion, and your men of the
present generation cannot understand any other rela-
tionship.

"As soon as woman escapes from the bondage of
marriage, she will regulate this matter herself. She
will demand that men recognize the purity of her mo-
tives, and she will teach them that if they wish to find
favor in her eyes, they must be capable of enjoying all
the other pleasures of life with her, without associating
her with the gratification of mere passion. When men
and women learn to associate on this plane the espion-
age of woman will cease. As it is now, a man is sus-
picious of his associate, because his own conscience
tells him in many cases that if she is not unfaithful
to her marriage vow, it is not because she has not
ample provocation. Men establish an espionage upon
women, because they are suspicious and selfish. Women
assist in this espionage with incredible zeal, because
they are jealous and selfish, and every woman who can
be crowded off the social stage makes that much more
room for the degraded slaves who do the spying and
gossiping. When this slavery and degradation is abol-
ished with marriage, and men and women associate
upon an equal plane, the artificial crimes of adultery
and fornication will disappear, friendship and love will
be cultivated, better men and women will appear, and
harmony will exist where discord now prevails."

CHAPTER XI.

A LESSON IN ETHICS.

"And Jesus said unto her. Neither do I condemn thee; go
and sin no more."

A few days after the recognition by Myrtle of her
relatives on the boulevard, as the friends were about
to repair to the conservatory for the morning ses-
sion of instruction, a visitor was announced in the par-
lor, and Nora presented to Mrs. Bell a card salver bear-
ing a card upon which was engraved "Mr. J. C. Mc-
Donald." As Mrs. Bell read the name aloud, Myrtle
exclaimed, "That is my uncle!''

"Sure enough!" said the doctor. "Well, as I sug-
gested before, we will have mother attend to him,
while Loma entertains us in the music room. When
you have finished his instruction, mother, you will find
us in the conservatory eagerly awaiting to hear the re-
sult of the interview."'

So saying, the doctor led Myrtle to the conservatory,
where Loma awaited them, while Mrs. Bell proceeded
to the parlor to meet her visitor. She found a tall,
dark-complexioned man, of an intellectual but some-
what melancholy appearance, whom she at once recog-
nized as the gentleman she had seen in the carriage1 on
the boulevard.

(149)

150 LOMA,

The formal greetings over, Mrs. Bell requested her
visitor to be seated. He complied, and with evident
embarrassment began the conversation.

"Mrs. Bell, I have come to perform a very disagree-
able duty, but one which I am compelled to face in the
discharge of my obligations as a Christian and a mem-
ber of society, and one which, however painful it may
be to both of us, you will doubtless thank me for not de-
laying."

"Indeed, sir, you astonish me. I hope it may not be
as painful as you anticipate."

"Would to God, madam, that it were not. But as it
is always painful to recognize depravity in any of our
fellow creatures, it becomes doubly so when we find it
in our own household and in the hearts of those we
have learned to love and from whom we have reason
to expect better things. To come directly to the point,
however, madam, I have learned recently that you have
in your house, and, as I am informed, as your guest,
a young woman by the name of Myrtle Burnham. Is
this true?"

"It is true. She is my guest, and I am sure a sweeter
and more lovely associate could not exist. Are you in-
terested in her?"

"It grieves me beyond measure, madam, to destroy
the conception you have of the character of this person.
It is my Christian duty to inform you that she is ut-
terly depraved, an outcast and a reproach to her sex,
and that, as you value your own good name, it is im-

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 151

peratively necessary that you should expel her at once
from your house."

"Impossible! My dear sir, we regard Myrtle as the
embodiment of everything which is good. By what
right do you bring these accusations against her? I
beg you to be careful what you say, for remember it is
easier to accuse than it is to prove guilt.1'

"Alas! madam, the proof is only too easily obtain-
able. We have her own confession and her own con-
dition to substantiate everything I say. This person
is, or rather was, my own niece, and until a few days
ago resided at my house, where she had every induce-
ment to lead a pure, virtuous and upright life. I say
she was my niece, for since the discovery of her dis-
honor, she has been dead to us. She has had all the
advantages of the church, the Sabbath school and a
Christian home, and the purest and best of associa-
tions. She was engaged to be married to a young man!
who was considered a most eligible and wealthy con-
nection, and who was a perfect gentleman. Such, how-
ever, was the depravity of this girl, that she allowed
herself to be seduced by her fiance^, and what is still
worse, she became pregnant, and is now plainly in that
condition. The young man paid the penalty of his sin
by being killed in an accident to a cable "car in the
La Salle street tunnel several weeks ago, which cir-
cumstance we are obliged to confess a direct visitation
of Providence. A few days ago this girl confessed to
my wife that she had been guilly of the worst of
crimes, with her intended, and when my wife informed

152 LOMA,

her of her condition she did not have sufficient sense
of shame to even profess remorse. We, of course, ex-
pelled her from our home, and we heard no more of her
until my wife recognized her in your carriage on the
boulevard a few days ago. We were at first dum-
founded, but later inquiry developed the fact that she
was here as your guest. I do not know by what
measure of deceit she has succeeded in imposing herself
upon you as a respectable person, but I presume that
this explanation, for which I hold myself responsible,
will enable you to see your way clear to her immediate
expulsion."

"The circumstances of her admission to my house are
simply these," said Mrs. Bell, quietly. "After being
driven from your home, she wandered three days and
two nights upon the street, when, in her misery and
despair, she attempted suicide by throwing herself
into Lake Michigan from the pier at the foot of Van
Buren street. She was rescued by a gentleman who
is also our guest, and by him and my son brought to
this house, where she has since remained."

"How unfortunate," groaned the visitor. "Would to
God, madam, she had succeeded in her attempt, for
living, she can only be a source of misery to herself
and a disgrace to those who are unfortunately associ-
ated with her. My wife has been almost crazy with
grief since this calamity, for our position in society
is among the best, and my wife is president of the mis-
sionary society of one of our leading churches, and you

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 153

know how seriously such an occurrence affects one's so-
cial standing."

"I infer from jour remarks, sir, that your wife's grief
and your own discomfiture arise mainly from the fear
of disaster to your social position. You do not seem
to have any consideration or sympathy for the unfortu-
nate girl."

"Why, surely, madam, you would not expect me to
show sympathy toward a depraved and unchaste per-
son, where the honor and social standing of my family
are concerned," exclaimed Mr. McDonald, warmly.

"I expect you to show justice, at least," said Mrs.
Bell. "You have not proved, as yet, that Myrtle Burn-
ham is either depraved or unchaste. Before I reach a
decision in this case I desire to know all the circum-
stances, that I may act intelligently, and place the
blame, if there is any, where it rightfully belongs."

"Madam, I fail to understand you. Have I not told
you that this young woman has been seduced, that she
is even now pregnant, and that she has confessed these
circumstances to my wife. As a respectable, Christian
woman, what more can you demand?"

"I am not a Christian," said Mrs. Bell, with dignity,
"but I will discuss this matter with you from a Chris-
tian standpoint, if you please. As far as you have pro-
ceeded with your statement, you have only brought two
fads in evidence, namely, that she is a young unmarried
woman, and thai she is now pregnant. Have you any
other evidences of her depravity?"

"T do not see that more could be required."

154 LOMA,

"I differ with you. Mary, the mother of Jesus, was
in precisely the same condition at one time, yet you
consider her the most blessed of women, and worship
the fruit of her womb as your God. You surely would
not claim that a depraved mother could bring forth
such a son as Jesus."

"But, my dear Mrs. Bell, that was different."

"In what respect, pray?"

"Why, he was God."

"Very well. If he was God and was conceived in
that way, then if there is any distinction between be-
ing conceived in or out of wedlock, it is more godlike
to be illegitimate than it is to be legitimate. If you re-
gard him simply as a man, then the only criterion by
which we may judge is his character and works. But
if he was really God, by coming into the world in that
way he manifested in the clearest manner his disap-
proval of the barbarous custom of marriage, which
then, as now, was simply the badge of the enslave-
ment of woman. I find that he still further exempli-
fied his disapproval of marriage by remaining single
himself."

"Madam, you astonish me. You surely do not mean
to claim that the Son of God approved of adultery and
fornication."

"Certainly not. But there is a vast difference be-
tween adultery and fornication and the expression of
pure love, in a natural way. When you exalt mar-
riage as the only test of purity, you are making a stu-
pendous mistake. There is as much prostitution in

A CITIZEN OP VENUS. 155

marriage as there is out of it. Love existed in the
human constitution before marriage laws or customs,
and it will survive after they have perished."

"Do you not believe that marriage is a divine institu-
tion, and that fornication and adultery are the worst
possible crimes?"

"By no means. Marriage is simply the invention of
priests, kings and politicians, used for purely political
purposes. Applying the tests of the highest Christian
standards, the actions of Jesus and his blessed mother,
I find that both condemned the custom by their ac-
tions, and Jesus by his express words refused to con-
demn a woman taken in adultery. I do not find that he
ever approved the custom by any action or word. I
honor his judgment, and from the standpoint of one
who is not a Christian there are far worse crimes than
either adultery or fornication, and I do not hestitate to
tell you that one of them consists in turning a defense-
less girl from a home, where she has a right to protec-
tion, out upon the street without resources, where she
is exposed to every temptation that can beset mind or
body, and likely to fall into the most horrible evils
that exist. There are conditions that are worse than
death, and to expose a young, innocent, and defenseless
girl to them is worse than murder."

Mrs. Bell's visitor regarded her in silent astonish-
ment. He sat nervously clasping his hands and biting
his lips, which were dry and colorless.

"Now, Mr. McDonald, we may as well come to the
vital point in this matter at once. I believe that you

156 bOMA,

are a. man of good impulses, and naturally upright and
kind, but you are laboring under a horrible mistake,
and you have committed an act of the greatest in-
humanity, while you believed you were doing your
duty. I do not blame you, but I do hold in utter con-
tempt and detestation the execrable philosophy which
has blinded you to the dictates of affection and justice.
Now, sir, if I am correctly informed, you became guard-
ian for Myrtle when she was ten years of age, and since
the death of her mother, which occurred at that time,
you have directed her education, her father having died
seventeen years ago."

"That is true."

"Now, will you please inform me to what extent
Myrtle has been instructed in the details of physiology,
especially that part which relates to the sexual nature
and the processes of reproduction?"

"Why, madam, I do not consider that the topics you
mention are fit subjects for a young and unmarried
female to study at all. We never mentioned them in
her presence, much less made them a part of her educa-
tion."

"Just so. And yet you exposed her to the society of
a young and amorous man, where she was sure to be
confronted with the temptation to indulge in sexual
intercourse, without the slightest information or knowl-
edge as to its nature and consequences. You required
her to continue chaste, when you never gave her an
opportunity to know the difference between chastity
and unchastitv, or in what unchastitv consisted. With-

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. I57

out the slightest preparation for the ordeal, you ex-
posed her to conditions which have, in all ages, proven
too much for the established principles of the wisest
and best of men, and because she ignorantly trans-
gressed a social custom which she had no opportunity
to understand, you consider her vicious and depraved.
Do you think this accords with justice or reason?"

The visitor was silent, but his face changed color
and he was evidently very much disturbed. Mrs. Bell
paused a moment to give him time to think, and then
resumed :

"There is another aspect in which we ought to con-
sider this question. Suppose we admit, for the sake of
argument, that Myrtle had willfully sinned. What
should we do with a sinner? What did Jesus say we
should do? You said that you came here to discharge
your duty as a Christiau. Can you find the place in
the Bible where Jesus ever persecuted any one? Did
he follow the woman who was taken in adultery to
see that she did not associate with decent people, and
to warn them against her? Nay, do we not find, on
the contrary that he gave even his own loving com-
panionship to the Magdalen, out of whom he had cast
seven devils? Suppose that Jesus had been present at
your house when you expelled this dear girl and sent her
forth from your home to wander on the streets of Chi-
cago, do you really think he would have approved of
your action?''

Mr. McDonald's lips trembled while he muttered
the words, "But Jesus was different."

158 LOMA,

"Yes,- Mr. McDonald, he was different from the aver-
age Christian of to-day. If he had come into your
Bible class last Sunday, you would have regarded
him as a tramp. If he had brought with him
the women he associated with when he was on earth,
you would have sent for the patrol wagon. But your
religion professes to encourage you to follow him and
be like him. My religion permits me to admire him
and imitate his actions as near as I can in my humble
way. I do not expect to meet him at the judgment
seat, but you profess that you do. Assuming that you
are right, what are you going to say when he asks you
what you have done 'unto the least of these,' the girl
who was intrusted to your education and protection?"

Mr, McDonald groaned. He wiped his eyes with his
handkerchief and said nothing. The philanthropist
continued:

"I read in your Bible this definition of true religion :

"'Pure religion and undefiled before God and the
Father is this; to visit the widows and the fatherless in
their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted front the
world.'

"Now, my dear brother, the very worst that can be
said of Myrtle when your wife discovered her condition
last week, is, that she was in affliction. She had done
no willful wrong, for she knew nothing of the conse-
quences of her act, and her ignorance was the direct
result of education. She was the fatherless and in
affliction. How did 3011 visit her? What account can
you render of your actions toward her at the Christian

A CITIZEN OF VENT'S. 159

day of judgment? Are you without siu yourself iu
this direction? Are you able to cast the first stone at
an unchaste woman, admitting that she is willfully
guilty of fornication?"

Mr. McDonald could staud no more. He rose ab-
ruptly and took his leave, saying:

"Madam, I do not understand this. Perhaps I have
done wrong. I must have time to think. I will call
again."

He went out wiping his eyes and pulling his hat
down over them, and as Mrs. Bell closed the door she
noticed that his steps were unsteady as he walked
away from the house.

Mrs. Bell returned to the conservatory, where Myrtle,
Loma. and the doctor listened eagerly to her report of
the conversation. Myrtle was much affected.

"Oh, I wish they would learn the truth, and let me
love them," she exclaimed. "They were always good
and kind to me, until this happened, and I would be
perfectly happy if they would only see their mistake
and trust me as they did before. Of course I do not
wish to return to their home, for I am much happier
here, but it would relieve my mind to know that there
was no ill will between us. In my present surround-
ings I cannot bear to think of any enmity or harshness
toward any one, and I do not want it expressed toward
me."

"You are rapidly developing the Christ spirit, be-
loved,"' said Loma, as he embraced her and imprinted
a kiss upon 1km- forehead. "I hope that your wishes

160 LOMA,

may be gratified, and from what our dear mother here
tells us, I think we may confidently hope that your
uncle may soon be converted. Let us celebrate her
victory with a song."

The friends repaired to the music room, and a mo-
ment later the perfumed air vibrated with the harmoni-
ous blending of human voices in an expression of
triumphant love.

CHAPTER XII.

RECONCILIATION.

"For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly
Father will also forgive you."

While Loina was thus engaged in implanting in
the mind of Myrtle the germs of the great truths which
her offspring was destined to teach to the world, his
devoted assistants were no less conscientious in the
performance of their duties in preparing her for the
physical ordeal through which she was about to pass.
Both the doctor and his mother were enthusiastic stu-
dents of gyna?cology and had for years made a special-
ty of conditions favorable to the best results in child-
birth. Now that a lively personal interest was joined
to professional pride, in the case in hand, they made
elaborate arrangements to procure for Myrtle every
influence which would secure her comfort, safety and
happiness, as well as conduce to the perfection of her
offspring. In all of this they were warmly assisted by
Loma, who brought to their aid not only the immense
stock of new ideas he had imported from his native
planet but also the inventive genius and artistic talent
of his superb intelligence.

Her diet was the first consideration. Mrs. Bell ex-
plained to her that now that the bones of her child

11 (161)

162 LOMA,

were beginning to form, it was necessary that she
should avoid all such food as would result in hardening
them to such a degree as would render her parturition
painful. She was instructed that it was necessary
that her own bones should be subjected to a softening
process, in order that they might be rendered pliable
and thus decrease the resistance to the passage of the
child from the internal cavity, through the opening of
the pelvis. She was assured that if these precautions
were carried out, she would not only pass through the
critical experience of labor with little, if any, pain but
that her offspring would be greatly protected, and that
by a proper course of diet after birth, his bones would
be rendered sufficiently strong before he would have
any occasion to support himself upon them, and that
her own system would quickly recover its necessary
rigidity. Myrtle submitted to all of these arrange-
ments with a ready compliance, so perfectly did she
repose confidence in the skill and superior wisdom of
her devoted friends.

Accordingly, all the water that she drank was care-
fully distilled to remove the lime and other earthy
material held in solution, and all articles of food con-
taining the same principles were carefully excluded.
She was provided with an abundance of the best fruit
on the market, and several barrels of apples were
secured for her especial benefit. These she ate, either
raw or cooked, as she desired, and grapes, tomatoes
and melons, were freely provided. A limited quantity
of lemons and oranges were added to this, but as the

A CITIZEN OF VENDS. 183

doctor believed and Loma confirmed, it was not con-
sidered best to indulge in any great degree in fruits
that were not indigenous to the climate of her res-
idence. These were supplemented with onions and
green vegetables, with a limited quantity of rice, sago,
tapioca, figs and raisins. Potatoes were excluded, and
turnips, beets and such vegetables as consisted of
roots were not favored. The general principle adopted
in this diet was, that whatever grew above the ground,
as the fruit of the plant, was acceptable, while roots
and tubers were not. The single exception to this was
onions, and as these were only used as a relish in
small quantities, and were valuable for their anti-
scorbutic qualities, they were considered desirable.
Pure honey, molasses, sugar, butter, oils and vinegar
were allowed in such quantities as she desired, but
all bone-hardening and muscle-producing foods were
rigorously excluded. Hence she used no bread, either
of corn or wheat, and very little meat of any hind. An
occasional indulgence was permitted in meait, but
when used it was usually fat, and of limited quantity.
On the subject of meat eating, Loma expressed himself
as follows:

"In the present stage of your civilization, the con-
sumption of meat is a necessity to many of your citi-
zens. Meat is nourishing and stimulating, and incites
the consumer to the display of great energy, and often
to cruelty. Meat-eating nations are usually cruel and
selfish, and as long as you have to contend with cruel
and selfish conditions, your citizens will need the

164 LOMA,

stimulating effect of a meat diet. But when you reach
the perfect form of civilization which exists in Venus,
the consumption of all animal food will cease. Conse-
quently, for myself, I desire to follow an exclusively
vegetable and fruit regimen, but I do not consider that
you have reached the stage when you can safely do
without meat."

Myrtle was kept in a state of absolute cleanliness by
frequent baths in tepid water, and occasional sponge
baths in cold water, for which services the trained skill
of Nora was enlisted. The exposure of her body in
the equable temperature of the conservatory, and tho
action of the sunlight on her skin, produced a peculiar
strengthening and beautifying effect, and at the end of
the second month of her stay at the residence of Doctor
Bell, she was more beautiful than at first.

During all of this time she had been subject to a
thorough but not fatiguing course of gymnastics. Mrs.
Bell was an enthusiastic teacher of physical culture
and had a large class of young people whom she had
personally instructed, and who were enthusiastic con-
verts to all of her physiological and social theories.
Myrtle was introduced to these young people, and im-
mediately became a general favorite. Among these
liberal minded and thoroughly enlightened people, her
condition, instead of being regarded as a disgrace,
entitled her at once to generous love and considera-
tion. Social parties and clubs were organized in her
honor, and she was constantly made to feel that she
was an honored guest. Dancing parties occurred at

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 165

least twice a week, and while she indulged in this
exercise with moderation, she was permitted to have
a full and complete enjoyment of her strength, and was
not encouraged to consider herself an invalid merely
because she was pregnant.

In this way the time passed agreeably, and she was
sufficiently employed at all times to obtain the full use
of all her faculties without becoming fatigued, and in
all of her social engagements she was carefully guarded
against the possibility of an unfortunate accident.
She enjoyed a ride in the carriage every pleasant day,
with one or more members of the family, and took
frequent walks through the parks and streets, accom-
panied by the doctor or Loma, all of which she enjoyed
with all the enthusiasm of her elastic temperament.

Under the careful tuition of Loma, she was daily
engaged in those forms of physical and mental culture
which were considered desirable, having reference to
the formation of the brain of her offspring. Loma had
explained, that there were three distinct stages of edu-
cational influences, the conditions surrounding the
mother at the time of her impregnation, the impres-
sions received by her during gestation, and the train-
ing imparted after birth. The conditions surround-
ing her at the time of her impregnation had been
most favorable, owing to the fact that she had con-
ceived her child at a time when her whole system
was glowing with a pure expression of love for its
father. The first three mouths had been passed by her
in great activity of mind and body, which was most

166 LOMA,

favorable for the operation of the second class of educa-
tional influences, to wit, the impressions received by
the mother during pregnancy. Loma explained that,
during this period, those organs of the brain which
were occupied with the faculties of observation, the
objective intellect, physical energy and physical love,
were being rudimentarily developed, and by the fact
that the mother during these months was kept very
active in the expressions of the same faculties, they
would be strengthened and developed in the child. By
this means she also escaped all of the distressing
symptoms of "morning sickness." Mrs. Bell had
always believed and taught her patients, that this
unpleasant symptom of pregnancy was simply the
revenge of nature for the general inactivity which was
practiced by most ladies as soon as they discovered
themselves to be pregnant, and often induced by the
confirmed indolent habits of the patient. She was
glad to find her doctrine corroborated by Loma, and
as Myrtle yielded to the advice of her friends, and
performed heartily all of the exercises and duties
assigned to her, which she realized to be for the wel-
fare of herself and her child, the results were highly
satisfactory. It was arranged that the general activity
of her bodily exercise should be gradually reduced dur-
ing the fourth and fifth month, and that her energy
should be directed more toward intellectual and con-
structive employment, involving the subjective intel-
lect, the cultivation of prudence, the love of the beauti-
ful and the sublime, and the extension of her social

A CITIZEN UF VENUS. 167

pleasures. This arrangement corresponded with the
second period of brain formation, and involved the
faculties that would be represented in those organs of
(he brain that are located iu the middle portion. The
last three months of her pregnancy were to be devoted
to the higher forms of logical and subjective reasoning,
the cultivation of sympathy and dignity, and special
exercises in benevolence, mirthfulness, hope, faith and
reverence. During this time she was also to be im-
pressed with the firmness and justice of the eternal
truths she had received from Loma, and the dignity
and importance of her exalted office, with the full and
adequate realization of the renown which must inevita-
bly accompany it.

As she was now passing through the stage when
impressions of beauty were desirable, the doctor ar-
ranged that every morning, as soon as she awakened,
her eyes should be feasted with some object of exquisite
perfection. For that purpose he ransacked the art
stores and the collections of his friends, and provided
a new object of beauty at least twice a week. Some-
times it was a beautiful painting, at other time's a
choice piece of statuary, and as often some lovely floral
design in which colors were blended in perfect har-
mony. These were taken into Myrtle's room and cov-
ered with a beautiful curtain, just at the foot of her
bed. While she was asleep, the curtain was removed
and the lights arranged so as to produce the most
desirable effect iu the morning when she should first
behold it. Each article was permitted to remain as

168 LOMA,

long as she desired it, and when her senses had thor-
oughly comprehended it, she was supplied with some-
thing new. Her expressions were carefully watched,
to see that she was not wearied by this process, and
occasionally when she had a decided attachment to
some particular work of great beauty, it was presented
to her by some of her devoted associates, so that the
gift might always be a reminder of friendship or love.

One day Lonia came in from a walk with the doctor,
and finding Myrtle in the parlor, advanced and pre-
sented her with a beautiful diamond ring, at the same
time paying her a delightful compliment, and con-
gratulating her on having reached in safety the middle
day of her pregnancy. "This is a custom on Venus,"
he said, as he placed the ring on her finger, "and I hope
that whenever your eyes are pleased with the brill-
iancy of its rays, you will think affectionately and
gratefully of the brilliant star whose rays are always
directed toward you in paternal benediction."

Myrtle was deeply affected, and embraced him with
great ardor. "I love the beautiful planet, every time I
see it above the horizon," she exclaimed. "I love it be-
cause it is beautiful and good, and because it has sent
you to me. I love it because upon it humanity is free
and maternity is honored. But tell me one thing.
Are all pregnant women upon Venus treated as I am
treated by you and these dear friends?"

"Yes indeed," said Loma. "Only upon Venus we
have infinitely better facilities than are even furnished
by the munificent hospitality we are at present enjoy-

A CITIZEN OF VENTS. 169

ing. In a few days I shall begin the discussion of
subjects in which the advanced methods we pursue
upon iny native planet will be explained to you, and I
promise you that you will be delighted to know them,
and that when you realize the tremendous advance
which must occur upon this planet, from the teaching
of the same principles by your son, you will feel that
your mission is indeed an exalted one."

"I have often wondered," said Myrtle, "which afford-
ed the most happiness — to live in a place where all the
conditions were perfect, or to feel one's self a potent
factor in evolving good conditions out of evil. When
I was a child I used to read of the struggles of those
brave men and women who led the battle for liberty
in behalf of the African slaves on this continent, and
I frequently wished that I had been born a generation
sooner, in order that I might have had a part in it.
But it seems that there are battles of greater magni-
tude to be fought to-day, and I am highly favored in
having a share in them. But my situation is so much
more pleasant than those who fought those battles.
I do not think that it takes much heroism to be placed
in such delightful surroundings and be ministered to
in this way."

"My dear child," said Loma, smilingly, "the highest
test of heroism is the willingness to do one's duty at
the right time and in the right way. Your duty falls
in pleasant places, but it requires great strength of
character to endure your present situation without
becoming selfish and indifferent to the rights and

170 LOMA,

wrongs of others. I have carefully watched your con-
duct, and you have invariably returned a full measure
of love for all of the favors you have received, and
your mind has been constantly on the alert for the
best possible use to be made of your opportunities.
As long as you maintain this high standard, you will
be performing the duties of a heroine, and you will
fight and win a battle which was lost by Adam and
Eve, and by many others since the civilization of this
world began."

At this point in the conversation, the door bell rang,
and Loma and Myrtle retired to the library. The
visitor was shown into the parlor, and Mrs. Bell was
summoned. When that lady reached the parlor she
recognized in her visitor Myrtle's uncle, Mr. McDonald.
He looked haggard and worn.

Mrs. Bell greeted him cordially, and endeavored to
place him at his ease. She invited him to be seated, but
he remained standing and gave every evidence of being
in a state of mental distress. Finally he exclaimed:
"My dear madam, I have come to tell you that I am
the most miserable of men. Your conversation of a
few days ago has opened my eyes to the utter injustice
of my action toward an innocent and unfortunate
girl, who had a claim upon my protection which miser-
ably failed her in the hour of need. I have confessed
my sin upon my knees in the presence of my God, and
I have come to acknowledge my transgression before
you, and to beg for you to intercede with her to forgive
me. Thank God, she is yet alive, and my ignorance

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 171

and uncharitableness has had no worse effect than to
expose her to perils, from which by the mercy of God
she has escaped. I can never express my gratitude to
Ilim, and to you and your friends as his instruments,
for saving me from the commission of a crime which I
now believe with you, to be worse than murder. AVill
you grant me the favor to say to the dear girl, that I
have not slept since I was here from remorse, and that
unless I can obtain her pardon I will never see another
happy moment."

"It will not be necessary for me to intercede for you,
my dear sir," said the philanthropist, gently. "With-
out solicitation on the part of any one, Myrtle has
declared that she bears you no malice, and only awaits
the first indication on your part of a desire to resume
affectionate relations, to meet you more than half way.
Such is the beautiful and forgiving nature of her char-
acter, that I do not believe she is capable of harboring
a thought of revenge or enmity against any one, not
even those who have wronged her. Shall I tell her
that you wish to see her?"

Mr. McDonald sank down upon a sofa, covered his
face with his handkerchief, and burst into tears. "And
this is the girl I thought was vicious and depraved!"
he exclaimed. "She is an angel, and I am not worthy
to touch the hem of her garment. Send her to me
that I ma}' confess my inhumanity, and if she forgives
me I will know that God has done likewise."

Mis. Bell withdrew from the parlor, and in another
moment Myrtle entered the room. She advanced to

172 LOMA,

her uncle's side and placed her arm around his neck,
and imprinted a kiss upon his cheek. " Dear uncle,"
she said softly, "I know what you would say, and I
have forgiven all. Do not think of it again, but love
me as you always have and let us be happy. It was
all a horrible mistake."

Her uncle caught her in his arms and kissed her pas-
sionately. "My child, my precious child !" he exclaimed,
"can you forgive the ignorance and inhuman conduct
of your poor, weak, blind uncle? I was blinded by
prejudice, and by the slavish adherence to conven-
tional beliefs. I was selfish and inconsiderate, and I
allowed my pride in my social and religious position to
destroy the spirit of the religion I professed. Forgive
me, and I will be your protector and guardian hence-
forth in the face of the world, and of my wife."

"Is Aunt Sarah still against me?" asked Myrtle.

"Alas! my child, for the hollo wness and insincerity
of religious profession. Your aunt is entirely absorbed
in her social position and in the prestige she obtains
from the presidency of a missionary society which
spends thousands of dollars annually on the heathen
in foreign lands, and which is powerless to soften the
hard hearts of the heathen in its own membership.
I know now that I was entirely dominated by her in
my treatment of you, fool, coward and hypocrite that I
was. I have read the Bible, argued, wept and prayed
with her, and all to no purpose. But I have realized
my own duty, and in spite of her threats and curses, —
yes, she cursed me when I told her I was coming to beg

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 173

your forgiveness, — I am here to offer you my protection
and my love, and to say that I despise the teaching of
the formal religion which has caused me to do this
great wrong to you. I have seen your Aunt Mary, and
she rejoices in my changed views. She sends you her
love, and offers you a home with her, and T will say
that you shall never need for anything while I live,
and in my will you shall be remembered as my own
daughter. This is all I can do at present to atone for
my great wrong, but if you will accept it, I shall be
happy once more in the performance of my duty to my
sister's child."

"Dear uncle," said Myrtle, as she kissed him on the
forehead, "you have made me very happy, and I will
be able to relieve you from all embarrassment in the
matter. These dear friends with whom I now have a
home, have adopted me as a member of the family, and
I am very happy. If I should go to Aunt Mary's now
I would be thrown among those who look at me in
very much the same spirit as Aunt Sarah does. The
people of your church, and the class of society in which.
I formerly moved are all blind on this subject, and it
will require the coming of another Messiah to convert
them. Here, I am surrounded by those who love and
respect me, and my child will be born and educated
under the most favorable circumstances. If you will
give me the comfort of your society occasionally, and
Aunt Mary will come to see me here, I shall be per-
fectly happy. I love you both, and I love and forgive
Aunt Sarah, and I only hope she will also see her

174 LOMA,

mistake some day and be converted to the glorious
truth. Now kiss me, and know that I have forgotten
all the unpleasant things that have occurred, and we
will never mention them again. I want to introduce
you to my friends, and show you what a beautiful
home I have."'

Pressing an ardent and forgiving kiss upon her
uncle's lips, Myrtle left the room and soon returned
with Loma, whom she gracefully introduced. Doctor
Bell soon entered, and Mr. McDonald took occasion to
feelingly thank both gentlemen for their rescue of Myr-
tle, whom he now referred to in terms of the wannest
affection. Mrs. Bell was the recipient of a graceful
tribute from the thoroughly reformed pharisee, and
when he had recovered his ease of manner and felt
secure in the respect of Myrtle's friends, who were too
liberal to hold his mistake against him after he had
confessed his fault, Mr. McDonald proved himself to be
a warm-hearted, accomplished and lovable man. An
hour was spent in delightful conversation, and then he
cook his leave, after accepting an invitation from Mrs.
Bell to bring his sister and dine with her on the follow-
ing Tuesday.

Myrtle was rauiant with joy after her uncle left, and
was warmly congratulated by her friends on his con-
version to her defense.

"I owe it all to you," she said, gratefully, to Mrs.
Bell. "I believe you would convert Aunt Sarah, too, if
you could meet her personally as you did Uncle John."

"I admire his courage," said Doctor Bell. "Consider-

A CITIZEN' OF VENUS. 175

ing his education and prejudices, and the character of

his associations, it is a remarkable exhibition of
courage, conscientiousness, independence and intelli-
gence for him to do what he has done to-day. An
ordinary man can go forward in what he knows to be
his duty, when he has never committed himself to a
contrary course. But it takes a brave man io acknowl-
edge a wrong, to apologize or ask forgiveness of one he
has wronged."

CHAPTER XIII.

THE CODE OF OALLIIEIM.

"Alone he stands.
Girt with the flawless armor of the Truth,
And in one hand a torch whose light dispels
The mists of superstition, as the sun
Drives doubts and shadows from the face of morn.
The other holds a sword whose keenest edge
Is turned against the mortal heart of Error,
A trenchant blade, and wielded by an arm
That knows not fear, nor halts at criticism."

Doctor Bell had followed with rapt attention every
lesson which Loma had delivered at which he could
possibly be present. The young physician was a bright
student and had made very copious notes of every one
of the short lectures delivered by Loma, being fully
resolved that nothing should escape him which would
add to his ability to perform successfully his part of
the great mission of instruction to Myrtle's son, when
he reached the age at which he would be committed to
his charge. Loma had planned that the childhood of
the coming prodigy should be spent under the maternal
instruction of Mrs. Bell and Myrtle, and that when he
reached puberty, his education should then be directed
by the doctor. These matters had been fully discussed
and agreed to by the friends, and all their energies
were harmoniously directed toward the consummat ion
of the great plan.

V2 (177)

178 LOMA,

More than two months had passed rapidly and pleas-
antly away, since the arrival of Loma upon the earth,
and the time had been most thoroughly utilized. Myr-
tle was now in the second period of her pregnancy, and
according to the laws of gestation which Loma had
explained, she was building in the brain of her child
those organs which related to the constructive powers,
the reasoning faculties, and the instincts of preserva-
tion and sociability. She became more cautious and
prudent, for her increasing size and weight constantly
reminded her of her condition and the care necessary
to prevent accidents. The select circle of friends to
whom she had been introduced by Mrs. Bell became
still more solicitous and interested in her daily. Never
a day passed but she was reminded of the affectionate
interest of some one of the circle by a personal visit,
usually accompanied by some loving token or gift,
most frequently some beautifully fashioned garment
designed either for herself or the little one who was
soon to bless her with his appearance. Every mani-
festation of this character caused Myrtle to thrill with
the sweet sensations of love and pride, for they were
nearly all the work of the hands of the givers, and
bore to Myrtle the delightful assurance that she was
loved and cared for. In this way her mind continued
to expand and grow, until one day when some special
tribute of affection had aroused her enthusiasm to a
high degree she exclaimed: "If this continues I shall
feel that I am the best loved woman on earth, and I

A CITIZEN OF VENDS. 179

shall glow like Loma with the magnetism of its recip-
rocation."

"That is precisely as we wish you to feel, my
love," said Mrs. Bell, kissing her. "And if you feel that
way now it will become the permanent condition of
your child, and he will be a worthy representative of
Loma, as Jesus was of Manrolin."

Myrtle became, during this period, intensely inter-
ested in art, especially in its constructive forms, and
in the expression of the beautiful. Sometimes her
rapture over these subjects became sublime, and she
wrote articles and poems, which were gems of literary
construction and artistic conception. Much time was
now devoted to music, and here, also, she displayed
her constructive and perfective powers by producing
musical compositions of a high grade. Under the tuition
of Loma, she progressed rapidly in the study of
philosophy and logic, and entered into debates with
her friends with extraordinary spirit and lofty courage.
Loma was delighted with the progress made by his
pupil, and when he had thoroughly satisfied himself
that she had mastered all of the preliminary instruc-
tions he had designed for her, he thrilled her and his
two other auditors, one day in the morning session in
the conservatory, by announcing that he was now
ready to relate the substance of a description of civil-
ization as it existed on his native planet

Myrtle clapped her hands with pleasure, while Mrs.
Bell exclaimed, "How delightful! I have been dying
with curiosity to ask you about the condition of society

180 LOMA,

in Venus, but we have been so thoroughly entertained
by what you have told us on other subjects, that I have
not found the opportunity, and, moreover, I was afraid
if I did ask, that you might decline on the ground
that we were not ready to comprehend it."

"All in good time," said Loma, smiling. "You were
not ready for it two months ago, but now that I have
criticised some of the conditions which exist here on
earth, you have a right to know how things are man-
aged with us, who have developed beyond your present
stage."

"The civilization of Venus," said Loma, as he began
his narrative, "while it is many centuries in advance of
this, is not so essentially different from what you will
attain to in a short time as you may suppose. To
make myself clearer, I will say that while a people are
engaged in advancing from ignorance to intelligence,
there is great rapidity of progress, but when complete
intelligence is reached there is no progress necessary.
Our people reached a solution of the problem of ex-
istence mamy centuries ago, and since that time they
have been living right, and in accord with nature,
hence there has been no change except the slow growth
toward higher forms of intelligence as new senses and
faculties have been evolved. These only occur with
the changing conditions of natural surroundings, which
you will uuderstand are not rapid.

"The essential difference between your people and
ours, at present, is, that your citizens are impelled
forward by resistless energy toward progress, while

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 181

ours are contented and happy ;is they are, because
they are enjoying correct conditions, while you are
straining every energy to develop better conditions
than those you now have. Now, some of the animals
on this planet have developed to perfectly correct con-
ditions, according to the limit of their faculties, hence
they live perfectly contented lives and make no remark-
able progress, because progress is not necessary. Man
will continue to struggle toward correct conditions
until he reaches them, and you have already reached
a comprehension of them in a large degree, in some
of your faculties, and your complete civilization will
date, as ours does, from the time when, as a race, you
recognize the principle of mathematical equity in all
the departments of action, and the true nature of the
constitution of man. You have the means of the solu-
tion of the problem in your hands already, and if I
can impress upon you, and through you especially upon
Myrtle's offspring, the comprehension of the true solu-
tion, he will be able to teach it to mankind, and there-
after it will only be a matter of a few generations of
men and women created upon correct principles,
which will enable you to reach a plane of life sub-
stantially the same as now exists upon Venus."

His auditors drew closer with breathless interest.
Lama rose from his seat and requested them to do
the same. He then formed a circle by joining hands
and raising his eyes toward the sun which glowed
through the opening in the dome of the conservatory,
exclaimed: "Source of Power aud all Goodness!

182 LOMA,

give me strength to perform my duty! May the words
of this hour be uttered in wisdom, and may the effect
be the elevation of mankind to happiness in the domain
of universal love!"

As he spoke this invocation, his body glowed with
magnetism until it was as bright as the sun, and the
glow communicated itself to the bodies of Myrtle, Mrs.
Bell and Edward, while they thrilled with the deli-
cious sensations which Loma's magnetism always im-
parted. He then released their hands and seated him-
self to begin his instruction.

"The foundation of a correct civilization," said
Loma, "begins with the rejection of the belief in the
supernatural. As long as our people believed in the
existence of ghosts, gods and devils, they attributed
all phenomena to their agency and neglected the study
of the natural. Our civilization properly begins with
the teaching of a great and good man by name of Gall-
heim, who declared, as I hope Myrtle's son will teach,
that everything is natural, that human character is
a matter of growth and culture, and that all problems
can be solved by applying the principles of mathe-
matics. He was at first persecuted and ridiculed, but
his power was so great, that he established a respecta-
ble following, who lived strictly according to his
teachings. They organized themselves into a society,
from which, as a nucleus, arose a growth of humanity
which ultimately conquered the planet and established
the civilization which we now enjoy.

"The fundamental doctrines of Gallheim were:

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 183

"First — That man is an aggregation of atoms that
are all governed by the same laws which govern
the material universe, and that his intelligence is the
result of growth and the formation of his constitution,
the aggregation of the power of the associated atoms
composing his organization and depending for its com-
plete manifestation upon the completeness and com-
plexity of his structure.

"Second — That the character of any individual can
be determined by an inspection of his physical con-
stitution, and adapted to its proper sphere of growth
and enjoyment of existence.

"Third— That by the study of the laws of nature
and by conforming thereto in the generation and
culture of humanity, as well as all other organisms,
approximately perfect results can be obtained.

"Fourth — That the laws of mathematical equity
which have been found to produce harmony in music
and art, can be applied to every other of the sixty-four
departments of knowledge and the spheres of action
pertaining thereto.

"As soon as these doctrines took root and began to
form the rule of action in the lives of Gallheim's
followers, the following remarkable results were at-
tained: First, his followers abandoned the delusion
of future lives, which had consumed their energies to
the neglect of the present, and began to study and
order their lives so as to produce the greatest amount
of happiness for themselves and their associates in the
present. His second great doctrine taught them the

184 LOMA,

true worth of human character, and the study of
themselves from a scientific standpoint enabled them
to form a true conception of their talents and how to
use them, and their faults and how to correct them."

"That is what the magnificent discoveries of our
own Gall and Spurzheim will do for us as soon as
Phrenology is accepted," exclaimed the doctor, with
enthusiasm.

"Certainly," resumed Loma. "I told you a moment
ago that you had the means of the solution of the
problem in your hands already, and as soon as the
science of Phrenology is developed, in accordance with
Gallheim's first great doctrine, instead of making it
subservient to the old errors concerning mind and soul,
you will be half way toward the correct result.

"The great light shed upon human character by
these two doctrines led to the enthusiastic develop-
ment of the third, which, as has also happened on the
earth, had already in a measure been applied to the
culture of animals and vegetation. As soon as man
comprehend his weaknesses, as exposed by Gallheim's
system of character study, which was essentially the
same as the rhrenology of Gall and Spurzheim upon
this planet, he began to conscientiously cultivate him-
self toward perfection. The result was that, in seven
generations, approximately perfect organizations had
been reached, and during this transition marriage and
all other barbarous customs were abolished, for as
soon as intelligent culture was attempted, it was
found that perfect love was essential, and as love

A CITIZKN OF VENTS. 185

could not exist under compulsion and slavery, mar-
riage disappeared and love was the universal law.
The most remarkable result attending this develop-
ment was the fact, that, as soon as liberty was de-
clared and people became accustomed to it, the tone
of public sentiment rose so high that those persons
who attempted to be selfish, or who would not conform
to the best conditions of development, were held in
such universal detestation that they immediately
reformed, or else went out of the new society and asso-
ciated with the barbarians, who were at last entirely
crowded off the planet. Because as the new society
grew in numbers and in the perfection of its members,
it rapidly obtained control of all governments, and the
remainder of the population were gradually educated
to a comprehension of the benefits, so that they were
rapidly absorbed. The new society began by limiting
the increase of population among themselves, produc-
ing only as many citizens as were required, and these
only of the best quality. It followed, as a matter of
course, that even among the barbarians those who
wanted offspring followed the teachings of Gallheim
and produced good citizens, who became members of
the new society, while those who were indifferent failed
to reproduce, and thus at last died out. The new-
society gained at last complete possession of the planet
by peaceable means, and with the use of no other
weapon than its own superb intelligence."

"Admirable!" exclaimed Doctor Bell.

"But the crowning glory of the teachings of Gall-

186 LOMA>

heim is found in his fourth great doctrine," resumed
Loma, "and it is to this especially that I wish to direct
your attention, for it is the essential doctrine which
is necessary to the completion of your civilization.
The most advanced minds among you are quite ready
to accept the others, but unless the fourth doctrine is
enforced, the best results will be delayed until it is.
The great doctrine of mathematical equity is all that
is needed to make men honest and unselfish, and you
will agree with me that dishonesty and selfishness are
the great barriers which stand in the way of the
progress of all reforms.

"I can best illustrate this doctrine by again referring
to music, because you understand it, and it is one of
the departments of human knowledge and effort in
which you have already applied the principle with
superb results. Now, music has been reduced to exact
mathematical principles. A half note is just twice as
valuable as a quarter note, and pitch is regulated by a
mathematical position of the note upon the staff which
corresponds exactly with the position of the tone it
represents in the musical scale. Our beloved Myrtle,
here, being an accomplished musician, can compose an
entirely new work, express it in musical notation and
send it to Germany, where an equally accomplished
and intelligent person who has never heard it will play
it exactly as Myrtle has intended it should be played.
The piece may be rehearsed by an orchestra in Ger-
many, and by another in Chicago, and if they are all
well-trained musicians, the two orchestras may be

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 187

brought together, and upon meeting, they will be able to
play the work together with such harmony that other
cultivated musicians will be constrained to applaud.
The same result has been substantially attained wher
ever mathematical equity has been brought to bear
upon the working of any of the human faculties, but it
has only been applied to a few. But you have reached
superb results through these laws in music, art, archi-
tecture, mechanics, engineering, and accounts, and
fragmentary results of great value in some other de-
partments. The application of precisely the same
principle will give you the same perfection of results
in the administration of every form of action of which a
human being is capable. Right here I wish to call
your attention to a remarkable fact. It is, that the
comprehension of the harmony which results from
the application of mathematical principles incites men
to righteousness. The musician loves to play correctly,
and in the case of the orchestra I have used as an
illustration, if one of the musicians willfully played
wrong and destroyed the harmony, he would be regard-
ed as insane by his brother musicians. Such conduct
docs not occur among refined musicians, because they
are trained by the application of these laws and con-
strained by ambition and love of applause to do exact
justice. As soon as these laws are understood and
applied in other departments of human effort, wrong
conduct disappears. You can hardly con ceive of a tirst-
class artist daubing a beautiful picture, or of an accom-
plished architect willfully destroying the strength of a

188 LOMA.

building, or of an expert accountant falsifying an
account, unless some element is introduced which will
make it appear profitable. Now, when all the human
faculties are educated on this principle it becomes
impossible to commit an unrighteous action without
outraging some sense which is thoroughly well trained,
and hence a complete equilibrium is established and
maintained. When you understand that there are only
sixty-four faculties to educate, if you will consider the
amount of effort it takes to train the single faculty of
time to correct action, and multiply that by sixty-four,
you will have a conception of the effort it takes to
educate a child in Venus to a complete use of all his
abilities, which leads to the establishment of a basis
for absolutely correct moral conduct in every depart
ment of life. In subsequent lessons I will give you a
further insight into the operation of these doctrines
as they were developed on our planet and as they are
now responsible for the measure of happiness we enjoy.
But the knowledge of this principle, and its application
in the present instance, admonishes me that my be-
loved pupil has received as much instruction to-day as
justice will permit. Let us adjourn to the music room
and rest the faculties we have been using, by the em-
ployment of others no less enjoyable."

CHAPTER XIV.

THE LABOK PROBLEM.

'Threnology! The word is like a charm.
To cure the ills of life. An omen sun-
To cheer the toiling masses on their way
To higher aims and brighter hopes withal.
When Love shall tear aside the blackened pall
Of misery and let the daylight shine
Upon the birth of Justice and of Truth.
When Reason shall prevail and men shall bow
Before the shrine of Wisdom, learning there
The lessons sweet of beauty and of health."

''The first sweeping revolution which was accom-
plished by the adoption of Gallheim's teachings was
the effect it produced upon the labor problem," said
Loma, as he began his next lesson, on the day follow-
ing. "Previous to the advent of this great philosopher
upon our planet, we were in exactly the same dilemma,
as to the disposition of human labor and the accumula-
tion of wealth, that now besets your society. The
increase in the productive power of machinery, the
great advance which had been made in the arts and
sciences, and the development of new territory, pro-
duced the same conditions upon Venus that you have
experienced here. Enormous fortunes were made and
enjoyed by the few who possessed financial skill, while
those who were not organized upon that pattern went
hungry, as they do here. The great majority of men

(189.)

190 LOMA,

and women were slaves to those who possessed wealth,
and the aristocracy were the only people who enjoyed
even a small measure of the conditions of correct
growth. Even they did not receive the benefits which
were possible to them, for selfishness and ignorance
are always the greatest enemies to happiness, and the
rich suffered, in common with the poor, from the results
of a pernicious industrial system, which condemned the
great majority of mankind to enslavement and to the
performance of unnecessary toil, with the consequent
loss of development, while the rich, by reason of being
relieved from toil altogether, failed to obtain the devel-
opment which comes from a correct amount of whole-
some labor. We had precisely the same conditions
upon Venus which now confront you, and while, on the
one hand, large numbers of our citizens were impover-
ished, for lack of wealth, and thousands starved in the
sight of plenty, another class of idlers was created
who died miserably for want of enterprising occupation.
"Grallheim's followers began by organizing their
society on the basis of exclusive association, as far as
it was possible. They kept their wealth within their
own society by producing everything they needed and
patronizing their own institutions exclusively. The}r
early advocated the abolition of marriage, but as public
opinion was very strong in favor of the ancient and
venerable mistake, they did not antagonize the bar-
barians by whom they were surrounded by disobeying
the laws, however erroneous they considered them, but
they secured their end by marrying among themselves.

A CITIZEN OP VENUS. 191

When they bad been organized fifty years, they bad
produced such an improvement in human development,
that they began to attract universal attention by their
superior beauty, and it was impossible to find a fol-
lower of Gallheim who would consider the proposition of
associating in marriage with a barbarian. So thor-
oughly did they practice the doctrines of their dis-
tinguished founder, that their marriages were almost
universally agreeable, and as we had liberal divorce
laws at that time, even among the barbarians, when
any marriage was found to be unhappy for any reason,
it was quickly dissolved, and that without scandal.
One of the curious facts about the early followers of
Gallheim was the reform they introduced into the mar-
riage ceremony itself. Wo had, up to that time, the
same absurd implications in the ceremony that you
have here. The woman promised to love, honor, and
obey her husband; the man promised to love, honor,
and cherish his wife. Gallheim himself called atten-
tion to the absurdity of these promises, and showed so
clearly that they were void on their face, that they
became ridiculous even in the eyes of the most con-
servative barbarians. He argued that love and honor
were consequences that flowed from lovable and honor-
able conduct, and could not be pledged in advance
without the stultification of the party making the
pledge. This was so clearly evident, that a reform in
the ceremony followed at once, and thereafter the par-
ties promised to be lovable and honorable themselves,
instead of requiring a pledge of love and honor i<» be

192 LOMA,

rendered, regardless of the conduct of the other party.
The result was, as might have been expected, that as
soon as loving and honorable conduct became the rule
and not the exception, the pledge itself fell into disuse,
because it was so universally understood as implied.

"As soon as love and justice began to be developed,
through these influences, a better conception of human
rights and privileges began to obtain. The followers
of Gallheim had in the meantime become immensely
wealthy. But as they were committed to the doctrines
of their great founder, as soon as they began to accumu-
late a surplus of wealth they applied the doctrine of
mathematical equity to its use. The members of the
society who were gifted with financial skill realized that
they could not accumulate vast riches and allow their
brethren to starve, without sacrificing the benefits of
the third great doctrine of their order. It became
necessary for them, in order to improve themselves to
the highest degree, to practice the most exalted forms
of benevolence and justice. The ambition which the
members of this remarkable society possessed, to im-
prove the society, itself, so that it would be able to
fulfill its exalted mission of the subjugation of the
planet to their high ideal of civilization, caused them
to use their wealth to the fullest extent in improving
every member in the order. Thus, in a short time,
those who possessed great financial skill came to be
considered merely as the stewards of the order, and
their social standing was made to depend on the ability
and fidelity with which they discharged this obligation.

A CITIZEN OP VENUS. 103

When a member was round who did not possess the
ability to gather riches, ho was in a large measure
relieved from financial responsibility, and was only
required to perform such work in thai direction as
would tend to develop him, if lie was a young man. If
he was advanced in years, he was relieved altogether
from any kind of labor which he was likely to fail in
performing, and was permitted to expend all his ener-
gies where he had talent. This was one of the secrets
of the great success of the movement and the remark-
able power which (hey developed. It was largely due
to the recognition of Grallheim's code, and especially
to his method of character study, which enabled them
to measure the capacity of an individual with accuracy,
and to assign him to his proper vocation in advance.

"The new society continued to grow in wealth, num-
bers and popularity, until, some thirty years before
(lallheim's death, they numbered about three million.
We had at that time upon Venus nearly the same
political conditions you have here, and strange to say.
there was a nation which was in all respects analogous
to the United States of America, in which (Jallheiin's
work had originated. His followers, acting under
his advice, settled in such numbers in one of these
states, which was in size, productiveness and natural
situation very much like the State of Illinois, that they
were able to buy all of the real estate in the state, and
establish such laws and customs as they desired. From
that time all obstacles to the new civilization seem to
have disappeared, and its progress was as rapid as

13

194 LOMA.

the growth of humanity itself. Within one hundred
years, from the time of the organization of their first
state, they were in possession of all the desirable por-
tions of the globe, and the barbarians were eagerly
submitting to their laws and customs and becoming
absorbed into the new society.

"As soon as the great principles of Gallheim's code
were understood, humanity realized that the end and
purpose of existence is enjoyment. In the study and
application of the third great principle embraced in
the code, it was found that those persons who enjoyed
life most produced the most desirable and perfect
offspring. Another great fact was, that those persons
who experienced the greatest amount of pleasure in
the sexual act, itself, produced the strongest and most
perfect offspring. The enjoyment of existence then
became the most enthusiastic study of the populace.
Here again the majestic character of Gallheim dis-
played itself. He impressed upon his followers that
the development of pleasure would come, not from dis-
sipation and the indulgence of desire but in cultivating
perfect self-control, and in displaying the most perfect
harmony in the use and development of the mental
faculties. In a word, the effect of his teaching was,
that every member of his society strove to the utmost
to secure as quickly as possible that development of
the sixty-four organs of the brain, the action of the
sixty-four corresponding faculties, and such education
in the sixty-four departments of human knowledge as
would enable them to order their conduct with the

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. I95

same degree of righteousness that had already been
obtained in music. The results wercmarvelous. Gall-
heim lived to realize the complete success of his phi-
losophy, and died at the close of his long and illustrious
career, Mossed, honored and revered by every inhab-
itant of the globe he had so thoroughly reformed."

"And do you consider h possible, that my son may
be able to make an impression upon the inhabitants
of this earth, similar to that which Gallheim made
upon the people of Venus?" exclaimed Myrtle, as Loma
paused at this point in his narrative. ■

"Certainly," responded Loma. "Unless he does, I shall
be completely disappointed, and shall be compelled to
consider my mission a failure. But there is no fear of
such a result. The principles I have announced to
you, as constituting the code of Gallheim, are very
simple, and you have comprehended them yourself
sufficiently well to begin their inculcation to-morrow.
But when they are presented by your son, with all the
force and magnetism with which he will be endowed,
by reason of the pains we are taking to make him a
complete specimen of manhood, there can be but one
result."

"Oh, this is perfectly glorious!" exclaimed Myrtle,
while Mrs. Bell encircled her waist with her arm and
held her in a warm embrace of sympathy, while Loma
continued liis narrative:

"As soon as the conduct of the new society became
regulated by the principles nnd teachings of Gallheim,
and men became accustomed to living for enjoyment,

196 LOMA,

instead of the pursuit of wealth, some very extraor-
dinary changes occurred. The study and practice of
the third article of his code soon developed the fact
that the greater portion of the labor which had been
performed up to that time had been worse than useless.
For as soon as it became known that great happiness
could be attained by studying and conforming to the
laws of nature, a great deal Of energy was expended
in that direction, and, of course, the laws of health
and correct living soon became established in the
intelligence of the people by the results of the experi-
ments that were made. Of course, it was soon estab-
lished what articles of food were desirable and what
were injurious. All injurious articles of food were
at once discontinued and their manufacture ceased.
You would be astonished, if 3-ou knew what an effect
would be produced on your own market, if the knowl-
edge which we have in Venus could be enforced in this
direction alone. Over half the stock of your provision
depots would be condemned, and, of course, the people
engaged in the manufacture and sale of these articles
would be liberated, or, as you would express it, 'thrown
out of employment.' You will not be astonished to
know that all such articles as alcoholic liquors, tobacco,
opium, and other purely injurious articles, went by the
board in the early stages of the development of this
new civilization. Only such quantities as were needed
for purely chemical and medicinal uses were tolerated,
and these were soon greatly reduced by the excellent
health of the inhabitants under the new order of things.

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 197

When you consider that in the United States von spend
more money for these injurious articles than you do for
food, you will understand how many people were re-
leased by this change. The next advance occurred with
the development of the fact that every one had been con-
suming too much food, and food of poor quality, and
the reduction of the quantity to just that amount
which was required by the individual, and the pro-
duction of only the purest and best foods, released an-
other large contingent. With the abandonment of the
habitual use of clothing, and the discontinuing of
harmful and useless forms of dress, another great bur-
den was lifted from the shoulders of toiling humanity.
"The improvement in the growth of humanity, itself,
and the development of the sense of justice, abolished
crime and contention among the members of the new
society, and a vast army of lawyers, judges, policemen
and officeholders were relieved from their wearisome
duties. The change in the system of the administra-
tion of wealth made insurance unnecessary; banking,
speculation, and all forms of gambling were discontin-
ued, and the offices occupied for such purposes were
closed, and their owners, with their legions of over-
worked clerks, typewriters and cashiers, walked out
into the sunshine of liberty. The decrease in the de-
mand for commercial commodities, and the destruction
of the competitive system of the accumulation of
wealth, liberated the merchants and their hordes of
employes and those who were connected with them.
hi short, the introduction of the new system destroyed

198 LOMA,

the necessity for nine-tenths of the distressing labor
under which humanity had groaned for centuries."

"And this grand result was accomplished by the
recognition of the single fact, declared to the inhab-
itants of this earth centuries ago, but never under-
stood, that wisdom is better than gold," exclaimed
Doctor Bell.

"That is very true," said Loma; "but humanity, en-
slaved under the conditions which then existed, was
unable to comprehend the utterance, much less put
it »into practice. It is doubtful whether the philoso-
pher who uttered it had the faintest conception of
what it implied. Our humanity had to go through the
same conditions of growth, and it is impossible to
reach perfection in any other way."

"It is not quite clear to me," said Mrs. Bell, "how
such a large number of persons were organized into
correct methods and habits, without the demoraliza-
tion which must surely arise from idleness. Will you
please explain."

"It was a matter of gradual, though very rapid
growth. You must understand, that this movement
began with a small collection of persons who were
under the direct tuition of the great Gallheim, and who
were by him instructed in the full meaning of his code.
They increased very rapidly, as soon as he was able to
demonstrate the results of his system, for we had then
on our planet, as you have here, a large number of
very advanced and intelligent persons who were seek-
ing earnestly for a better method of living. As soon

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 199

as tlrey solved the money problem — and the solution, as
you have seen, consisted simply in having the com-
monwealth administered by those members who were
best endowed with financial sense, and holding them to
the application of the rule of mathematical equity,
which they dared not violate, because they would not
only outrage their own consciences, but would lose the
inestimable benefits of the society by being cast out
among the barbarians, — then everything else became
comparatively easy. As fast as new members were
received, they were kept busy, first in learning the
principles of development, and secondly in doing what-
ever work was necessary to be done, while the older
members of the order were granted complete immunity
from labor, except when their services were required
as teachers. During the first two generations, the
teachers had plenty of employment, and there was so
much to be done in clearing away the evils of the old
system, and in devising and putting into operation
the improvements which were made, that there was
plenty of employment for every one within the limits
of the hours which Gallheim had established as the
maximum amount of labor which should be required of
every member of society. But as a large amount of
unnecessary labor had been abolished by the new
system, so, also, a large increase was the immediate
result in those departments of labor which minister
directly to human enjoymenl and improvement. There
was a tremendous demand for teachers and workers
in every department of literary labor. The sense of

200 LOMA,

justice and discrimination having been highly devel-
oped, there was an overwhelming sentiment in favor of
good literature, and everything which was vicious,
obscene and demoralizing was soon condemned. The
universal demand was for that which would elevate,
refine and purify society and enable the members to
reach, in the shortest possible time, the highest culture
of every faculty. Brilliant authors and writers, lectur-
ers, artists and musicians, had only to demonstrate
their abilities, and they were at once lionized in so-
ciety. The architect who could improve a building,
the engineer who established a swifter or a safer mode
of transportation for the myriads of emancipated men
and women, who were for the first time enabled to
enjoy the delights of travel, the actor who could pre-
sent a realistic portrayal of that which was good or
beautiful, in fact, any one who could add to the sum
total of human happiness, was hailed as a benefactor,
and accorded the praise and social position which he
merited. It was no longer a question of money or of
the ability to make money. The test of a man's popu-
larity was simply the voice of the people, testifying to
the benefits he conferred upon them. The effect of all
this upon the energies and ambitions of the people
was simply incredible. Some of the critics of Gallheim
had urged that the adoption of his system would de-
stroy progress and annihilate the energy and ambition
of the people. These men were probably honest in
their belief, for they could not comprehend the exist-
ence of energy without the commercial stimulus. The

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 201

truth of the matter was, however, that under the old
system no one was energetic, except those who were
gifted with the acquisitive sense, or who were stung
into action by the privations of poverty. The first class
were the only ones who succeeded. The second class
made spasmodic efforts, but usually sank into the
apathy of disappointment, after a number of failures,
and it was only after the new system was adopted, that
the political economists realized what a vast amount
of energy had been paralyzed by the evils of the old.

"Under the new system, instead of having a half
dozen incentives to human activity, we now have sixty-
four. As matters now stand in this world, the great
majority of your citizens have no conception of business
except as a means to accumulate money. Ask the
first one hundred men you may meet in Chicago, what
they would do if they had a million dollars, and the
majority of them will answer, 'I would retire from busi-
ness and have a good time.' By a good time, they
mean the indulgence of every form of human selfish-
ness. This is proved by the fact that nearly every man
who does accumulate enough money to do some good
in the world fails to employ it for any purpose except
the gratification of his own selfish desires. If your
average citizen of wealth, say those who possess from
one hundred thousand dollars up, could be translated
to Venus to-day, and be endowed with the same power
that they have here for the amelioration of human
misery, and they lived as they do here, they would be
held iu universal execration and contempt. Under the

202 LOMA,

development of the entire list of faculties, as we are
now educated in Venus, there is constant employment
in the practice of good actions, and as it is one of the
laws of health and development that a man must
exercise every faculty in some degree, every day, you
can readily see that life in Venus is not idleness, but
a continual round of healthful, enjoyable and life-
developing duties.

"One of the remarkable principles which Gallheim
inculcated under the application of the fourth article
of his code was the limitation of population. In Venus,
you will understand, the principle of mathematical
equity is applied to everything. Accordingly, as the
members of the new society possessed themselves of
those portions of the globe which were desirable places
of residence, the exact number of inhabitants which
each territory would sustain under the very best condi-
tions of growth was carefully calculated, and the popu-
lation was limited to that number. In applying this
principle, Gallheim enforced upon humanity the same
degree of forethought which an intelligent husband-
man exercises in regard to his crops. He has learned
by experience that in the successful growth of corn,
for instance, the hills must be just so many feet apart,
and there must not be more than a certain number of
stalks within a. certain territory. If he violates this
law of mathematical equity, his crop suffers in propor-
tion to the extent of the violation. This law was
vigorously enforced by Gallheim's followers, and, as a
consequence, their offspring were uniformly vigorous,

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. OQ3

and as the barbarians were gradually crowded upon the
most undesirable and least fertile portions of the globe,
and as they paid no attention to the great laws of
reproduction, they very soon died out. The develop-
ment of the study of human improvement, under the
stimulus imparted to it by Gallheim's code, soon en-
abled his followers to establish a complete code of
sexual ethics, under which it became possible for them
to not only regulate the number of offspring but to
determine the sex at will, and to endow them with
whatever talents were most needed by the society, and
to insure their health and personal beauty. This
threw the phjsicians out of employment, and most of
them became teachers or devoted themselves to the
development of special branches of scientific study.

"In future lessons I will tell you all about the system
of education as it is practiced in Venus, and also
explain, at length, how the domestic relations have
been brought to their present strge of perfection."

CHAPTER XV.

THE NEW EDUCATION.

"It is a long way from tho charcoal to the diamond, but
every element that is in the diamond is also in the charcoal.
It is a long way from average humanity to Jesus, but the
virtues and graces which shine with such resplendent luster
in Him lie hidden and undeveloped in us.

"What do these facts indicate? Not that we are ruined,
but that we are incomplete."

When the four Mends assembled in the conserva-
tory, for the next session of instruction from Loma,
Mrs. Bell began the conversation by saying:

"Whenever these reforms have been discussed among
advanced thinkers on this earth, we have always been
met by the following questions: 'If marriage is abol-
ished in society, what will prevent the race from
relaxing into complete licentiousness? How will the
sexual relations be regulated? How will a father be
able to recognize his own child? What will become
of the children? What will become of parental respon-
sibility? Who will take any interest in education?'
These, and a thousand similar questions, are pro-
pounded to the advocates of reform, and T must con-
fess that, so far, they have never been satisfactorily
answered."

(205)

20fi -LOMA,

"They cannot be satisfactorily answered until the
code of Gallhehn is adopted and practiced in its entire-
ty. As long as humanity is dominated by selfish mo-
tives, slavery must exist in some form. Some years
ago, in the United States, you practiced four leading
forms of slavery. You now have three conspicuous
forms remaining. You have abolished in a degree, and
wholly as a matter of law, the slavery of the African
to the Caucasian, but you still enforce the slavery of
of the poor to the rich, the slavery of woman to man,
and the slavery of children to their parents. You have
yet to learn that each of these classes have rights
which those who rule over them are bound to respect.
I might also speak of the slavery of animals to man,
but that subject properly belongs to another discus-
sion. I think I can best answer all of your questions
by tracing the operation of the code of Gallheim at
the present time upon our planet, and showing you
how it affects the life of an individual from the time
the germ of his life originates in the loins of his
father, to the time that he reposes in the everlast-
ing arms of the universal mother, Space, when his
organization is dissolved in what you call death.

"To understand the working of society on Venus, you
must understand that every man and woman is com-
pletely educated. You will also understand, that, by
reason of the perfect application of the third article
of Gallheim's code, we have an almost universally
perfect humanity. By this I mean that every one of
our citizens is brought into the world with a complete

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 207

brain and body, and while we have diversity of char-
acter and different types of humanity, yet we have
completely eliminated idiocy, insanity, deformity, and
all other unfortunate congenital conditions which arise
from ignorance and disease. Occasionally, though
very rarely, some accident occurs to a pregnant woman,
or to a young child, by which a cripple is produced,
but this is so rare that such persons are regarded as
great curiosities when seen. They are tenderly cared
for according to the degree of their misfortune, and
secure as much happiness as it is possible for them to
appreciate and enjoy. Now, if you will conceive of a
society organized with such individuals composing it,
and that all are equally free and independent, and that
they are not hampered with the consideration of accu-
mulating wealth, but are all living for the greatest
possible enjoyment, and all actuated by the sincerest
desire to promote the happiness of all that surround
them, and particularly anxious to promote the happi-
ness of posterity, and to leave a progeny which will be
a credit to the last generation, you may comprehend
what follows.

"There are always a large number of persons who do
not wish to become parents. They are absorbed in
other pursuits, and are persuaded that they can render
the state a better service by not attempting to produce
offspring. There are others who find in parentage the
exercise of the highest privilege, and when a young
man or woman decides to adopt that mode of life, they
are enrolled in that class, after being carefully exam-

208 LOMA.

ined to see that they possess the highest degree of
physical and mental perfection, and are accorded the
special privileges of the parental division. This ex-
empts them from compulsory labor and leaves them
free to devote their whole time to the cultivation of the
talents they desire to impress upon their offspring.
The relation of sexual intercourse is established accord-
ing to a system which I will describe in due season. I
wish you, at this point, to simply realize that the con-
ception takes place when both parents are in the
highest possible state of perfection, and that the act is
performed under such conditions as will insure the
greatest possible gratification to both parents, which,
as I have before intimated, has a. corresponding effect
of producing the greatest possible perfection in the
offspring.

"When the female has conceived, she is at once made
the recipient of special attention and honor, and the
father of her child attends her through the whole
period of her pregnancy, giving her the felicity of his
society, and jealously guarding her from every possible
accident or untoward circumstance which may possibly
mar the perfect effect, which he is, of course, desirous
of producing. He gives her at all times the warmest
proofs of his affection, and any neglect at this time, or
harsh conduct on his part, would forever disgrace him
in the eyes of society, and possibly prevent his ever
being selected for a similar office. In short, every
pregnant female in Venus is surrounded constantly by
the same conditions which we have been so careful to

a CITIZEN OF v i:\rs. 209

provide for the benefil of our beloved Myrtle, only on
our plane1! the conditions are rendered more favorable
by the fact that there are more1 persona who have a
perfect understanding of the subject. We believe,
however, that more1 education can be accomplished dur-
ing the nine months of pregnancy by correct maternal
impressions than can be reached in nine years of effort
after birth where these important influences have been
disregarded. Consequently, you will understand, that
the citizen of Venus comes into his world with the
first right of every citizen fully guaranteed to him, —
the right to be thoroughly and completely created.

"In the meantime, the life of the mother has been
so natural, and her diet and exercise has been so well
regulated, that parturition takes place without pain,
and the birth of a child is an event of great rejoicing
and congratulation to the parents, who are invested
with further honors with pleasing ceremonies. The
father is now relieved from further duty toward his
offspring and the mother, but the attachment is usually
so strong that he devotes much of his time to her enter-
tainment, and, as I will explain later, these attach-
ments are usually of life-long duration, and greatly
more felicitous than the most happy marriages you
have on this planet.

"From the conception of the child until it is weaned

the mother is an inmate of the palace of maternity,

an institution especially maintained by the state for the

entertainment of pregnant and nursing mothers. Here

every condition is maintained which will conduce to her
14

210 LOMA,

happiness and the perfection of her offspring, and dur-
ing the nursing period her food is specially prepared
to give her strength and to harden the bones and
increase the growth of her child. When the child is
weaned her responsibility ceases, and the further care
and education of the young citizen is assumed by the
national educators. These are persons who have been
selected by the state with reference to their especial
fitness for the purpose, according to the superb system
of character study introduced by Gallheim, and are
those who are known to be most highly endowed with
patience and love for the work of instruction. They
assume the education of the child, and from the time
it is weaned until it graduates from the highest educa-
tional institution on the planet, it remains under the
jurisdiction of the various departments of education.
Thus one department superintends the awakening of
the faculties during the first year, another continues
the process the second year, and as the child grows,
he passes through all of the departments, on the same
principle that you have in your graded schools, but in
Venus we never sacrifice the first and most important
years to the methods of incompetent mothers. On the
contrary, as the state recognizes its most important
duty to be the protection of its youngest and most
helpless citizens, it provides that during each succes-
sive year of growth the citizen shall be placed in the
most favorable environment, surrounded by the com-
panionship of those of his own age, and under the
jurisdiction of skilled educators, who have won dis-

A CITIZEN OF VKNTS 211

tinctioD for their success in the management of pnpils
of that ayv. It lias been determined, by experience,
that those persons who give their lives to the office of
reproduction have done enough when that function has
been well performed. Therefore, instead of having the
conditions which formerly obtained, and which si ill
obtain here, where the children are conceived, nursed
and governed during the first six and most important
years by overworked, devitalized, impoverished and
entirely incompetent parents, we secure for both parent
and child the happiest possible conditions. In doing
this we have only carried into effect the principle which
you recognize in the establishment of the public school.
If the state has a right to pass a compulsory education
law, — and there are few of your citizens who do not
concede this as necessary to the preservation of the
state, — then it certainly has the right to make that
education complete and effective. The difference in
our system and yours is this: your educators have not
yet comprehended that the chief end of education is,
not to stuff the child with information but to teach
hi ip +he use of his faculties. You begin your education
at six years, because you are dominated by the idea
that that is as soon as the child can begin to load up
with information, and remember such things as the
multiplication table and the forms of letters. You
have lost the most Important years of the child's life,
because lie has not been taught the true use of his
faculties, and he has acquired pernicious habits and
faults of character, under the jurisdiction of his im-

212 LOMA,

patient, incompetent and often unkind parents, which
will remain to cripple him for life. Moreover, ytrar
teachers are not instructed in the art of character
study. They do not understand the child, because they
do not understand human nature. They proceed upon
the altogether untenable and unscientific theory, that
the child has a soul, regardless of the fact that such a
thing has never been seen or demonstrated to exist
since the beginning of the world. They do not regard
the child as a creature of growth, and hence they do
not inspect his growth. Many a child has been pun-
ished and degraded in your schools for inattention,
when the fact was that the pupil was deaf. We might,
with justice, say that the teacher was blind."

"I can readily see that such a system must result in
the greatest possible culture of the child,'' said Mrs.
Bell; "but do not the mothers suffer from this separa-
tion from their offspring, and does it not tend to destroy
the maternal instinct ?"

"Quite the contrary. You must remember that the
mothers are granted almost complete immunity from
other duties, and are left to the highest culture of them-
selves. They thus have abundant leisure, and they are
not separated from their offspring. The children are
under the jurisdiction of the educators, but as only a
few hours each day are devoted to actual exercises of
development, and the greater part of the time of the
young citizen is passed in play and various forms of
athletic exercises, the mothers have the privilege of
being delighted spectators and participants in these

A CITIZEN OF VENUS.

213

spoils, and they have five or ten times as much actual
companionship with their offspring as the average

mother has here. Moreover, as the departments of edu-
cation are constantly needing new teachers, in all of
the grades, a large number of the young mothers find
it enjoyable to master the entire details of the educa-
tional system of certain grades, notably the infant and
primary classes, and many of our best educators arc
those who have been the fathers or mothers of several
citizens. The grounds of the departments of education
are magnificent parks, and they are constantly filled
with parents, who, in addition to participating in the
games and sports of the young, are exchanging the
most delightful social courtesies among themselves.
You will remember that every citizen is instructed as
the basis of his education, that he must exercise every
one of the sixty-four faculties to some extent, and
while the lives of our citizens are for the most part
continually passed in the development of pleasure,
there is no ennui and no dissipation. These evils are
entirely prevented by the operation of the law of niathe-
matical equity, which every citizen understands, and
which he is trained to observe and regard as the foun-
dation of his happiness.

"The period of education of a citizen of Venus ex-
tends over thirty years. This is divided into three
decades. The first decade is occupied with the awak-
ening of the faculties, which is simply physical cul-
ture. By an admirable system of exercises and drill,
the child is taughl the correct use of himself. He is

214 LOMA,

first trained to observe. Then the faculty of language
is aroused and he learns to talk. Meanwhile his social
faculties have not been neglected, and he is made to
realize that he is loved, and he at once reciprocates
the affection. Then he learns to walk, and by calis-
thenic exercises and drill, he learns to walk gracefully
and correctly. He is not permitted to do any of these
things until he has developed strength, and hence we
never have any bow legs, crooked knees, or other de-
formities such as are so common among your citizens
from the neglect or ignorance of incompetent parents.
"This first decade is passed under the most favora-
ble conditions of growth and development, which is,
in fact, the rule of the entire life on our planet. There
is no confinement, no close atmosphere, and no impa-
tience or injustice practiced toward the young citizen.
He passes his time with companions of his own age, and
as the sexes are constantly associated, he has the ad-
vantage of the development of love from the very be-
ginning of his existence. You will understand that
I use the pronoun me' in its general signification, for
there is absolutely no distinction in the matter of sex,
except that the little girls are impressed with the dig-
nity of motherhood, while the boys are instructed to
observe and practice the virtues that lead to correct
fatherhood. These subjects, however, are freely dis-
cussed in the presence of both sexes at all ages, and,
therefore, there may be said to be no difference in the
methods of education. It is a fact that the little boys
love dolls as well as the little girls, and the girls love

A CITIZEN OF VENDS. 215

athletic sports as well as the boys. The greatest at-
tention is paid, during this decade, to the develop-
ment of social graces, the cultivation of physical en-
ergy, and the training of the objective powers of the
intellect, so that, at the age of ten years, there is not
a child among us but what is affectionate, sociable.
active, observing and exceedingly graceful in all of his
expressions.

"During the second decade all of these acquired
powers are kept active, but more attention is given
to the development of the subjective forms of reason-
ing, to composition and construction, to the develop-
ment of prudence and executive ability, the forms of
government and military discipline. The military sys-
tem, by the way, is not organized for offense and de-
fense, as on this planet, and guns and swords have
long since become obsolete. A few of them are pre-
served in the museums as curiosities, and to show
the great progress which has been made; but our mili-
tary system is simply the orderly arrangement of gov-
ernmental discipline. The evolutions of large bodies
of persons is still practiced as a means of securing
control, and it is one of the admirable illustrations
of the application of the rule of mathematical equity.
During this second decade all of the education which
is at tempted on this planet is accomplished, and a
great deal more, in the departments of sociability and
ethics, of which you do not, as yvi, have the faintest
conception. During this decade a great deal of pro-
ductive work is accomplish- d, and all that is done for

216 LOMA,

the benefit of society, in the line of actual production,
is placed to the credit of the student.

"The progress of the student has been carefully
watched up to this point, and the observations of the
direction his growth is taking enable his preceptors
to decide with absolute accuracy what line of work
he is best adapted to, and to what extent his powers
are limited. Usually, these powers have been given
a definite direction by the desires of his parents, and
the pains that have been taken to make the circum-
stances attending the conception and gestation of
the citizen insure his possession of special talent for
special services. But it sometimes happens that some
unforeseen circumstance changes the character of the
citizen, and some unexpected talent is developed, or
perhaps some weakness is discovered, which will alter
the calculation and change the destiny of the life.
(Jallheinfs system of character study, embraced in the
second article of his code, provides for this exigency,
and whatever the character of the citizen proves itself
to be, it is recognized and permitted to have its full
development in the most profitable lines of action.

"At the end of the second decade the decision is
made as to what profession, trade or occupation the
young citizen will devote his efforts. It is, of 00111*80,
his ambition to excel in some line, and render such
important services to the state that he will be ad-
vanced to the highest grade of social position. The
third decade gives him an excellent apprenticeship,
in which he performs a large amount of profitable

A CITIZEN OF VENTS. 217

work, which is placed to his credit. He now devotes
four hours per day to the work of his chosen profes-
sion, under the most competent instructors. The rest
of his time is his own, and the most ambitious young
citizens deArote four more hours to the prosecution of
the further study of such arts and sciences as they
may have a liking for. Large numbers devote this
time to music, and the number of trained musicians
who are always at the service of the state, and who
are engaged in giving private concerts at various
places, would astonish you. There is a great demand
for the services of musicians, for all of the athletic
and calisthenic exercises of the young members of the
two first decades are performed to the time of music,
and this music must needs be first class, because their
young ears must not be dulled with imperfect har-
mony. A great deal of time is devoted by all classes
to dancing, and the military drill requires a large num-
ber of musicians of the highest grade. Grand choruses
are constantly being organized, and every afternoon
every park is converted into a feast of song, music
aud dancing, according to the desires of the persons
who frequent each resort. Thus, in the city of Rosa-
lia, where I reside, which has only five thousand in-
habitants, there are more than one hundred musical
organizations of a private nature, beside the large mu-
sical section of the students, who are required to fur-
nish a certain number of concerts every month.

"The student, therefore, after spending four hours
per day in the labor of his profession and devoting

218 LOMA,

four more hours to such arts and sciences as may suit
his taste, is prohibited from any further severe form
of labor by the law of mathematical equity, and is
required to devote the remaining time to social pleas-
ure, rest, or any occupation which may be wholesome
and agreeable, provided that he appropriates at least
eight hours of this remaining time to sleep. He has
every opportunity for social pleasure, as the working
hours for professional labor are from 8 a. m. to
noon, and after that the young apprentice is prac-
tically master of his own time, provided he is able to
give a good account of it to his prefect. The prefects
are members of the educational body, and each one is
responsible for the conduct of one hundred pupils.

"When the third decade is completed the citizen has
completed his education, and at the age of thirty years
he is inducted into his profession with appropriate
ceremonies. He now devotes ten years to the service
of the state, and is required to serve four hours per
day, six days in the week, in the discharge of his pro-
fessional duties. It has been found by experience
that this amount of time is more than sufficient to
place at the disposal of the state a splendidly trained
and equipped body of workers in every department
of labor required by society. Consequently, the gov-
ernment has at its disposal plenty of time to allow
deserving workers frequent vacations, and it is a fact
that the workers are, as a rule, so absorbed in the
prosecution of their duties, and so thoroughly con-
tented, that the government is obliged to employ a

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 219

large corps of fertile inventors to keep up a supply
of new enterprises upon which to employ the talent
at its command. In fact, at the present time the
highest honors have recently been won by those who
have been able to suggest some desirable enter-
prise for the employment of the regular professionals.
Every available piece of ground has been beautified
and cultivated, until the entire inhabitable portion
of the globe is a vast farm, garden and park. The
most superb examples of architecture abound every-
where, and as fast as there is the slightest sign of
decay or lack of safety, the old buildings are torn
down and replaced by new ones. Our engineers have
brought the problems of transportation and sanita-
tion to the highest possible point of perfection. In
fact, there is hardly a branch of industry that can be
named, that is conducive to the happiness and wel-
fare of mankind, which has not been brought to the
very best possible conditions.

"At the age of forty the citizen has completed his
services to the state, and thereafter his time is entirely
at his own disposal and he does as he pleases. His
social position is assured; he has earned his living,
and the amount of his services placed to his credit is
greatly in excess of the cost of his maintenance in
luxury, even to the age of one hundred and fifty years,
which is the greatest age which any of our citizens
have succeeded in reaching. His habits of industry,
however, are so thoroughly well fixed by this time,
that he probably continues to work in his profession,

220 LOMA,

either as a teacher or writer, or perhaps he devotes
his time to the prosecution of some entirely new
branch of study. For instance, my father, after serv-
ing the state for ten years in the capacity of editor
of a daily paper, upon receiving his discharge, devoted
his^ usual working hours to the study of astronomy,
in which he became very expert and won two gold
medals from the National Association of Astronomers,
for the discovery of two new comets.

"One grand feature of our industrial system remain ;;
to be told," said Loma, and his fine countenance
glowed with an expression of great pride and rever-
ence. "We take care of our aged citizens with the
same solicitude that is expended upon the young. As
the shades of eternal night begin to gather, when the
step loses its buoyancy and the eyes grow dim, there irf
no sadness, no neglect, no memories of ingratitude.
As there are those who by nature are specially qual-
ified to assume the control and direction of the first
years of the young life, so there are those who are
especially gifted in the ability to minister to the wants
of the aged. Serene in the contemplation of a life
well spent, jubilant in the retrospection of past tri-
umphs, surrounded by the hale companions of his
youth, and ministered to by loving hands, with no
speculation on the present and no fears for the future,
the aged citizen of Venus calmly awaits the dissolu-
tion of his powers. There are no honors too great to
be rendered to the serene old man or woman, as they
calmly review the procession of their descendants,

A CITIZEN OF VKNTS. o2l

who arc enjoying the blessings bequeathed to them
through their observation of the law of mathematical

cquit}'. And when at last the golden bowl is broken
and the citizen is admitted to eternal rest, there is no
grief, no mourning, no habiliments and trappings of
woe. His body is quietly cremated, and all that re-
mains of him is the sweet perfume of his perfect life
and the memory of his excellent accomplishments."

CHAPTER XVI.

SOCIAL AND SEXUAL ETHICS.

"Phrenology! Best gift of Mind to 111:111,
Before whom Evil hides her guilty face
And Superstition cries out in alarm.
Thy power will emancipate the race
And lead us on to joys intensified
A thousandfold beyond our present ken,
"When we shall blend in perfect harmony
And Love's sweet offspring come in Virtue's power
To bless the world with fairer creatures still.
Phrenology! 'Tis thy triumphant hour!"

At his next morning session for instruction, Loma
announced that he would proceed to interest his audi-
tors with a complete exposition of the system of sexual
association practiced upon Venus.

"To understand my remarks upon this subject you
must bear in mind that our citizens have the ad-
vantage of many generations of complete and correct
edueation. While Gallheim's system of philosophy
was very complete in itself, yet the full benefits of its
operation were not felt for many years. At first there
was some friction, and this is always to be expected
after a change, until the mental capacities of the peo-
ple are educated to a full comprehension of it. But
when you understand that all of our citizens are now
created under the operation of his wise laws, and that
the patriotism of each member of society is always

(223)

224 LOMA,

excited towards making a record in behalf of the im-
provement of the race, you will be able to understand
how we conquer some difficulties that might otherwise
seem insurmountable.

"The first important fact to which I wish to direct
your attention is, that our citizens are in a natural
state, and that we do not have to contend with in-
flamed and unnatural passions. It is safe to say, that
seven-eighths of the moral obliquity of which your
citizens are guilty in the department of sexual ethics
come from unnatural and injurious food, and the use
of alcoholic liquors, tobacco and other stimulants,
which are entirely injurious, and which, beside blunt-
ing the moral perception and destroying the balance
of the judgment, actually inflame the desires to such
an extent that they are uncontrollable. These con-
ditions were all abolished by the adoption of Gall-
heim's code, and we have a class of citizens, as a con-
sequence, who are able to control their desires and
make them subject to the application of the law of
mathematical equity.

"Another condition which is in our favor, is that the
natural desires of the affectional nature are satisfied
from infancy to old age. The very first impression
that is made upon the young citizen is, that he is
loved, and that his affection is desired in return. He
is kissed, caressed and encouraged to exercise his own
affection by both sexes from the beginning to the end
of his life. Now, on this planet you violate the law
of the development of love by instructing your young

A CITIZEN OP VENDS. 225

people thai it is dangerous and indecent to express
love freely. As soon as the young citizen passes out
of his swaddling clothes he begins to despise the
caresses of his mother, and he is taught that it is un-
manly and babyish to be affectionate. Your girl is
taught to absolutely strangle her affections until mar-
riage, in order that she may then gratify the selfish
whim of the tyrant who is to own her, by being what
he calls 'chaste;' that is, that she has never given ex-
pression to a single impulse of love to any fellow-
creature of the opposite sex, except his arrogant, igno-
rant and selfish self. Asa consequence of this sentiment
and doctrine, there are thousands of your young men
and women who are in a state of sexual starvation,
and as they have been starved from their youth up,
they have no conception of what is right. With the
larger liberties you allow your boys, the majority of
them become rakes, and satisfy their passions when-
ever and wherever they can, without taste or discrim-
ination, and after a few years of such dissipation they
are utterly unfit for a pure sexual association with any
woman. On the other hand, your girls either become
sexually paralyzed, or, yielding to the dictates of
strong impulses, they violate the customs of your so-
ciety, and, if discovered, they are disgraced.

"Now, upon our planet we have no such conditions.
The fact that love is made a subject of study, and in-
struction, the same as music or any other department
of knowledge, has enabled us to obtain the same de-
sirable results. The affection which exists between

15

228 LOMA,

the parent and child is never allowed to grow cold.
You will see a mother of advanced age surrounded
by stalwart sons and beautiful daughters, and per-
haps a score of grandchildren, and by actual count
you will see that she receives as many, or perhaps
more, demonstrations of affection in the course of a
day as she received when she was a beautiful young
baby in her mother's arms. As between the sexes,
and persons of the same age, the same spirit of affec-
tion prevails. Young persons become attached to each
other in infancy, and continue through life to give
and receive kisses and caresses with the greatest free-
dom.

"As a consequence, we do not have the condition of
starvation to contend with, and the affectional natures
of our young men and women being satisfied by these
conditions, they are ready to consider the sexual rela-
tions with sound judgment and to adopt that course
of action which the experience of the race has proven
to be in accord with the law of mathematical equity
and the best practical results. Another fact which
conduces greatly to the establishment of correct moral
conditions is, that sexual intercourse is not consid-
ered forbidden fruit. It is regarded as a purely nat-
ural function, and the imagination of the young citi-
zen is not inflamed by its being surrounded by the
air of mystery which pervades all classes on the
earth. The destruction of the belief in the supernat-
ural, which was the first principle of Gallheim's code,
rendered all subjects free to the investigation of the

A CITIZEN OP VENDS. 227

people, and as soon as the curiosity of the young citi-
zen is satisfied with reference to his sexual functions,
and he understands them, he dismisses the subject
from his mind and engages himself in the pleasures
which are suitable to his ago, with the full belief, that,
when he reaches maturity, he will have all of the en-
joyment intended by nature in the exercise of those
parts of his constitution.

"With these explanations, you can readily under-
stand that it is not difficult to enforce the doctrine
which is universally accepted on Venus, that sexual
intercourse should not take place until the partici-
pants have reached maturity. We find that our male
citizens usually become fully mature at the age of
twenty-five, and the female citizens about five years
younger. Hence the question of indulgence does not
present itself to the consideration of the young mem-
bers of society until they are sufficiently mature to
meet it with sound judgment. It is firmly impressed
upon the young citizen, that sexual intercourse before
maturity is highly injurious, and destructive of enjoy-
ment after that period, and the law of mathematical
equity is again invoked with the happiest results..
But in the meantime the young citizen is instructed
in the minutest details of the proper performance of
the act, and as this, as well as every department of
knowledge, is carried to the perfection of a fine art,
when the time for indulgence arrives, the participants
are prepared to obtain the highest form of enjoyment
from the exercise of the function.

228 LOMA,

"The enforcement of the second and third articles
of Gallheim's code has caused every citizen of Venus
to be thoroughly instructed in the art of character
study and the principles which underlie the improve-
ment of the race. Consequently, all intimate associa-
tions are governed by the laws of affinity, and as the
study of personal magnetism has been carried to the
same degree of perfection as all others, we have
learned what combinations of complexion, tempera-
ment, quality and phrenological development produce
the best results in all departments of effort. You
will remember that every citizen has been created
with a definite purpose, and that that purpose has
been kept in view at every stage of development
and education. Each citizen is anxious to make the
highest possible record, and consequently, as the act
of sexual intercourse is recognized and used as one
of the greatest powers of the individual, it follows that
the selections that are made of companions for this
exalted act are made with direct reference to the best
possible effects on the happiness of the parties, and
the results desired in the offspring, if any are contem-
plated.

"In order that you may comprehend the manner in
which these selections are made, I must explain an-
other feature of our social system. In the very nature
of the constitution of man it is plain that some per-
sons must be more agreeable than others to any given
individual. While it is our duty to treat every living-
thing with justice and kindness, yet there are some

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 229

we do not wish to be continually associated with, and
many we cannot entertain to any extent. There are
others we wish to manifest friendship toward, with
more than conventional warmth, and there are others
still upon whom we wish to lavish affection. Now.
the capacity of any individual is limited in all of these
directions, though under our system of culture of the
affections, the number of persons that are fervently
loved by some of our strongest and best natures would
be incredible on this planet, where nothing of the kind
is practiced, but rather suppressed.

"In Venus the social relations of every citizen are
classified under seven specific degrees, as strangers,
acquaintances, associates, brothers, sisters, lovers, and
consorts.

"A stranger is a person whose relationship is un-
known. This includes all persons not defined in the
remaining classifications.

"An acquaintance is a person whose name, resi-
dence and social position are known, but who may not
be related to the individual in any intimate way. An
associate is an intimate acquaintance, and this rela-
tionship corresponds to that which your society main-
tains among those who have a visiting and cordial
friendship, but who do not consider themselves bound
by any special ties. The establishment of these rela-
tions is largely a matter of locality and convenience,
sometimes of accident, but a man is not considered an
associate until cordial social courtesies have been ex-
changed.

230 LOMA.

"When persons of either sex conceive a strong at-
tachment for each other it is in order for either to pro-
pose a covenant of fraternity. This covenant is a
pleasing ceremony, and is always celebrated with fes-
tivities in the presence of other members of society.
When this covenant has been formally sealed, the
parties are considered in an affectionate relationship,
and they caress each other as freely as is agreeable.
In this state there is an absolute guaranty of protec-
tion and fidelity, and a young woman in Venus never
hesitates to accept a caress from a brother, because
she knows he is sincere, and that it does not imply
any sexual intercourse, or any temptation to indulge
in that act. While sexual intercourse is not consid-
ered a crime, and if it were indulged in, it would not
subject the parties to disgrace, but only to a parental
admonition from a prefect, yet so thoroughly is the
idea inculcated that this act must not be performed
until the proper stage is reached, that the rule is never
violated. A brother proposing such a thing to a young
woman with whom he has celebrated this covenant
would be regarded as insane, and it would probably
produce the same effect upon her that would be pro-
duced upon Myrtle if I should ask her to rattle a tin
pan while Edward was singing us one of his excellent
compositions. Such is the effect of education and re-
finement, coupled with a correct understanding of the
use of things.

"When, however, the citizen has advanced toward
maturity, and the sexual senses have become thor-

A CITIZKN OF VENUS. 231

oughly trained and subject to the dictates of enlight-
ened judgment, the young man or woman becomes
conscious that those persons who arc his or her sexual
affinities, according to the laws of human association,
which have by this time been thoroughly mastered,
are agreeable for a higher use. We will suppose that
we are considering the case of a young woman of
Myrtle's age, though, as I have said, there is no dis-
tinction in favor of either sex in the practical work-
ing of these customs. She has a large number of as-
sociates, and of these a number have been advanced
to the fraternal degree. She becomes conscious that
of her brothers there are not less than twenty who
are of suitable age and temperament to be her sexual
affinity. She must have time to discover which of
these she prefers, and this can only be determined at
last by very intimate association and the extension
of fraternal greetings and caresses into those expres-
sions which have a closer significance to the sexual
act. She, therefore, advances to the degree of lovers
those of her brothers for whom she has a strong per-
sonal attachment. This is probably five years before
she expects to become a mother. But in the degree
of love, she tests her feelings, and very soon discovers
the one for whom she has the highest and most ex-
alted sentiments and who reciprocates them in the
highest degree. This mailer of selection is purely
mutual, and a rejection is not considered a slight to
either party, for the law of mathematical equity re-
quires each person to use the highest skill and best

232 LOMA,

possible judgment in making the selection. When the
selection has been made, it is announced, and the
parties remain as betrothed lovers for several months,
testing the effect of association in every possible way,
and developing their powers together, so as to be sure
before any sexual intercourse is attempted that they
will be perfectly harmonious.

"When this period of probation is past they receive
the congratulations of their friends, and begin their
sexual association, with a ceremony acknowledging
and recording the relationship. For at least one year
no possibility of conception is incurred, and if at any
time it is discovered that the relationship is injurious
to either party, or that they do not harmonize in the
highest degree, the relationship *is at once dissolved
and new relationships formed according to the same
system. So perfect is the operation of the system of
selection, however, that only a fraction of one per
cent, of the relationships thus fonned are ever dis-
solved. When a dissolution takes place, however,
there is no scandal, and the parties suffer no more
loss in the esteem of their associates than Myrtle
would with us if she attempted to play a difficult
piece of music and should make a mistake. The law
of mathematical equity prohibits the visitation of any
loss of social position upon the parties who have earn-
estly and conscientiously endeavored to do their best
for the advancement of society, even though they may

fail.

"Tt is usual for the parties to continue in the rela-

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 233

tion of consorts for a period of years, usually from
two to five, before they produce offspring. When
they have become perfectly attuned, they are admitted
to the palaces of maternity, and here they generate
their offspring according to the admirable system I
have already described. When a child has been pro-
duced the obligation is at an end, and either party is
free to return to single life, or to form a new rela-
tionship, if they so desire; but they have usually be-
come so warmly attached to each other that the re-
lation is continued at least to the full extent for which
they are allowed by the law of mathematical equity
to become parents. No woman becomes a mother
after she is thirty-five years of age, and no man be-
comes a father after he is forty. So perfectly is the
law of conception understood on our planet, that no
accidents occur, and the man or woman who cannot
regulate the matter of conception is unknown among
us. After the age of conception is past the parties
continue to consort together and enjoy their sexual
relations, and, as I have stated, they seldom dissolve
the relation. It is not compulsory, however, and after
the parties have passed the age of parentage they are
at liberty to do as they please. But by this time they
have been so thoroughly satisfied, and what is decent
and correct has become so thoroughly understood, that
there is no indulgence but what is approved by our
authorities as conducive to health and the best possi-
ble effects upon happiness.

"It has been determined that the best results are

234 LOMA,

attained by the exclusive sexual intercourse of one
man with one woman, provided that it is accompanied
by the highest expression of mutual love and recipro-
cated desire. Hence it is never attempted in any other
way, and if the parties cease to be attractive and
loving, which rarely happens, they are permitted to
correct the mistake, and to form another relation,
which is equally as exclusive while it lasts, and it
usually lasts. Now, while it is found that sexual in-
tercourse is more beneficial when it is confined to one
consort, it is not so with the other expressions of love.
When a man or woman ceases to exchange affectionate
demonstrations with all persons except the consort,
it is discovered that such persons become stale and
flat in the exercise of love, and receiving no mag-
netism, except that of the consort, they soon become
starved. Hence it is the custom for both parties to re-
tain all of their lovers, and after a person has selected
his or her consort, the lovers unite in contributing all
their good influences to the benefit of the one who
has favored them by advancing them to that degree.
Hence, in the case of the young woman we have been
considering, while she has sexual intercourse only
with her consort, yet she is continually fed with the
magnetism of her lovers and brothers, and the rich-
ness of the development of her love nature goes on
without interruption. When she becomes pregnant
she draws largely upon all of these resources for the
sustenance and mental food she requires, and the re-
sult is, that her child reflects the combined excellen-

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 235

cies of all her lovers in his constitution, instead of be-
ing the starved and puny production of two narrow
natures.

"The foregoing observations apply to all those per-
sons who have adopted the profession of parentage.
The same system of selection obtains among those
who have decided that they will not produce offspring,
except that this fact is always mutually understood
before they advance to the degree of consorts. In
case both parties desire it, they may at any time adopt
the profession of parentage, even though they do not
contemplate it at the time of consorting. But in case
one party develops a strong desire for offspring, and
the other party does not, the relationship is then dis-
solved, and new relations formed, according to the
wishes of the parties, for it is a cardinal principle in
the law of reproduction that no person should ever
become the parent of a child unwillingly, and that no
one who is healthy and of suitable age should be de-
nied that privilege when it is earnestly desired and
can be indulged without violating the law of mathe-
matical equity in its application to the welfare of the
proposed offspring. Under the enlightened conditions
which have been produced by the application of tin1
full text of Clallheim's code, these matters are perfectly
adjusted."

"It is clear from your exposition of the subject," said
Mrs. Bell, "that your citizens use the act of sexual in-
tercourse for more purposes than mere reproduction.
Since the agitation of these subjects began on the

236 LOMA,

earth, a certain class of reformers have developed,
who argue that there should be no intercourse under
any circumstances, except for actual reproduction.
They have attracted a very respectable following by
their arguments, many of which appear to rest upon
reason. I would greatly enjoy hearing your opinion
upon this subject."

"The same theory was advanced upon Venus when
the subject was in the same stage of development,"
answered Loma, "and it was a healthy reaction from
the unbridled license which had prevailed up to that
time, under the system of marriage. While the wife
was the slave of the husband, she was obliged to sub-
mit to his unnatural demands, and a long train of
evils was the result. As is usual in such cases, there
was a reaction when the wife began to obtain the
control of her person, and those persons who did
not comprehend the enjoyments of a perfect form of
the act, began to advocate the theory you have men-
tioned. It was noticeable, however, that it had no
strong adherents of either sex who were well devel-
oped in the affectional nature, except those who had
been disappointed in marriage, and whose sexual pas-
sions had been in a measure injured or destroyed by
some form of abuse. Those who really loved and cop-
ulated in purity and happiness, experienced such
ecstatic joys that they were unwilling to adopt the
theory, and those who were inflamed by unnatural
desire ridiculed it and disregarded it. This led to a
careful investigation at last, and under the application

A CITIZEN OF VENT'S.

237

and practices of Galllieinfs code, and especially of the
third article, it was discovered that the sexual act con-
sisted in an exchange of magnetism, and that when it
was performed intelligently, it was a powerful force
which could be used, not only for the reproduction of
offspring but also for the reproduction and increase of
all the mental and physical powers of the participants.
The argument which was the strongest advanced by
the advocates of the theory, that all other animals ob-
served this supposed law except man, was completely
overthrown by this discovery, because man was dem-
onstrated to be the only animal who was sufficiently
endowed with intelligence to apply it. It was shown
that man was the only animal who could understand
the laws of electricity and magnetism, and to compel
him to forego the benefits which he could derive from
a proper understanding and application of the laws of
sexual magnetism and electricity was as absurd as to
require him to abandon the uses of the same forces in
the arts and sciences. Therefore, when man ceased to
consider himself bound by the habits of the animals
who were beneath him in intelligence and complexity
of organization, and began to study himself, in the
light of science, experiment and observation, the true
laws of sexual association were rapidly formulated and
comprehensively taught. I will make these laws the
subject of a special session of your instruction."

"There is only one thing which I do not clearly un-
derstand in the operation of your system of sexual as-
sociation," said Myrtle, "and that I can embody in a

238 LOMA,

single question. When a young man or woman has a
large number of lovers, do they become jealous and
quarrel among themselves over preferences, as we do
on this planet?"

"That is rendered impossible by the operation of the
law of mathematical equity," answered Loma. "You
understand that the fact that the young woman has
advanced a number of her brothers to the exalted de-
gree of lovers gives them no claim to exclusive posses-
sion of her under any circumstances. They are simply
complimented by being assured that they have a share
in her affections, and jealousy among them would be
as absurd as jealousy among brothers in one of your
present families concerning a sister. Jealousy never
arises in such a relationship, even on this earth, unless
the jealous person is insane. You sometimes have an
example of a woman who is jealous of the affection of
her husband toward his daughter by a former mar-
riage, or of a wife toward her husband's sisters, or
something similar, but in all of these cases you know
that the condition is abnormal and you treat it as a
form of insanity. A young man who would show jeal-
ousy, and make himself disagreeable, or attempt to in-
terfere with the young lady's liberties in any way,
would soon find himself dismissed from the coterie of
her lovers, and sometimes such things have occurred,
but so rarely as to furnish few examples. When a young
man has been selected as a lady's consort he is very
secure in her affections, and as all of her lovers now
unite in showing how faithful and devoted they can

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 239

be to her interests, he would be a tool if he manifested
anything but the warmest appreciation of their efforts
in her behalf. At the same time his lovers of the other
sex are showing their devotion to him by every act
which can promote his happiness in his choice, and his
consort would be considered insane, and it would be
considered good grounds for the immediate dissolution
of the compact, if she in any way attempted to inter-
fere with his liberties, or to require him to sacrifice any
of the privileges which science and the experience of
the race have decided are beneficial. For instance, if
she should manifest displeasure because he bestowed
an ardent caress upon one of his lovers, she would be
regarded as having acted as insanely as if she had
been displeased because he ate his dinner with relish.
We do not have these conditions upon Venus, because
all of our citizens have been so thoroughly instructed
in the principles of mathematical equity. To show
you how our lovers act, I will relate the method
of a very delightful social custom. Notwithstanding
the fact that the choice of consorts has been made, and
the minds of the parties are regarded as settled, after
a scientific and sensible method of choice, the fact is
recognized, that, the delight of the parties in each other
can be greatly increased bv the congratulations of
their friends. So when a betrothal is announced, it is
the custom for the lovers of both parties to arrange a
series of receptions in their honor, and to write fre-
quent letters of congratulation, in which some virtue
of the consort is commented on. By the time the par-

240 LOMA,

ties are ready for the final ceremony of the act of con-
sorting, they are in the highest possible condition of
mutual admiration and love, and the attachment is
thus cemented and continued. It is considered a most
elegant thing to suggest to a man some extraordinary
virtue of his consort. If this custom prevailed on
earth there would be fewer divorces, but your people
lose all interest in the married man or woman, because
they are regarded as the chattels of each other.

"It is this idea of ownership which is the curse of
your social system and the cause of jealousy. Men
and women will continue to be selfish until they learn
the law of mathematical equity. While in ignorance
of this law, and believing in the ownership of the mar-
riage relation, an inferior man becomes the husband
of a superior wife. As soon as she becomes his prop-
erty he forbids her the natural association which it is
her privilege to have with all good men. He is not
agreeable himself, and he knows it. He knows that
when she meets a superior man, he shows to a disad-
vantage, therefore he does not want her to meet any
superior men. She craves a natural food which he
cannot and will not provide her, and because she seeks
the society of some good man he is torn with spasms of
insane fury. He is jealous. Being jealous, he makes
himself so disagreeable that it takes a saint to live
with him. All women are not saints, and none should
be required to be. All that should be required of any
man or woman is to be natural. It is impossible to be
natural in an unnatural state.

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 241

"I will state, in closing, that the social standing of a
citizen of Venus is graded according to the number of
fraternal and loving relations he has established. If
he can make himself so agreeable that he can secure a
brother he is credited with ten marks of merit. If he
can secure a sister he has twenty marks placed to his
credit. For every lover he receives on,- hundred
marks, and for a consort five hundred. These credits
are repeated for every year that the relationship con-
tinues. For every child, a maximum of one thousand
marks is granted for perfection, and this number is
proportionately reduced if there is any imperfection
m the offspring. The citizen makes two records V
juvenile record, which marks his progress on a. similar
scale, until he is twenty years of- age. At twenty he
begins to make his life record. It usually happens
that, on his twentieth birthday, all of the friends of
his youth renew their covenants with him, so he starts
with a very respectable record. It may interest yen
to know my record, of which I am proud. The juvenile
record is composed entirely of fraternal relations as
.a juvenile has no lovers or consorts. I closed mv
juvenile record with seven hundred and twenty broth-
ers, and one thousand five hundred and ninety-six sis
ters, and as the relationships had continued on an
average ol !nine years each, my social record was indi-
cated by the number .352,080. All of n.v fraternal rela
turns were renewed on my twentieth birthday, and at
the close of the last year I had the following record,

16

242 LOMA<

which has been slightly increased since. I am now
thirty -five years of age:

I have brothers to the number of 2,960, with an
average of eleven years of association, which

entitles me to credit marks 325,000

Sisters, 4,320, average 12 years 1,030,800

Lovers, 276, average 14 years 386,400

I have had one consort, ten years 5,000

We have produced three perfect children 3,000

My social standing, therefore, last year was 1,756,800

Mrs. Bell, Myrtle and the doctor broke into ap-
plause. Loma, glowing with his exquisite magnet ism,
extended his arms to Myrtle, and said :

"Beloved, may I add you to the list of my lovers as
my latest and sweetest accession?"

Myrtle, for an answer, sprang into his arms and cov-
ered his lips with kisses. "Oh! if I am only worthy!"
was all she said,

Loma returned her caresses with fervor, and then,
releasing her, extended his arms to Mrs. Bell. "May
I claim you as my sister?" he said to her, and she re,
sponded with a warm and sisterly caress which left no
doubt as to the sincerity with which she reciprocated
his attachment.

Doctor Bell arose from his seat and extended his
arms to Loma. "I offered you my resources and all my
powers of assistance the second day of our acquaint-
ance," he exclaimed. "May I now take the initiative
and ask that you make the compact of Brotherhood

A CITIZEN OF VENTS. 243

with me, and that it may date from that happy mo-
ment?"

"With all my love!" said Loma. "In fact, I so con-
sidered it at that time, but it is delightful to renew it
now," and so saying he embraced the doctor and kissed
him affectionately. Then turning to the ladies he ex-
claimed:

"Beloved, if you were sufficiently clairvoyant, you
would know that at this moment, in Venus, in one of
the temples of my city, my exalted consort is presiding
over a meeting of my lovers and most intimate brothers
and sisters, who are able to be present, to the number
of five thousand. Our entire proceedings of the last
hour have been as well known to them as if they were
in this conservatory. At this moment they are uniting
in a grand anthem of love and friendship in honor of
the birth on this earth of the true system of social
fraternity. Let us unite with them, and for a brief
period I will give you a glimpse into the regions of the
blessed."

In a moment Loma glowed with an intensity of mag-
netism he had never before displayed. He stretched
out his hands over his friends, and the conservatory
seemed to change into a vast auditorium of such sur-
passing beauty that the senses were bewildered with
the effect of its magnificence. The auditorium was
filled with an audience of human forms, glowing with
magnetism, and radiant with the perfection of their
own superb loveliness. Upon a dias in the center of
this auditorium was a woman, whose magnet ism seemed

244 LOMA,

to be more intense than any of her audience, and whose
beauty was so surpassing that her image remained for-
ever impressed upon the three beholders as a dream
of never-to-be-forgotten loveliness. While they gazed
entranced upon this vision, their ears were ravished
with strains of music beyond the comprehension of
earthly senses, but which they recognized as of the
same type with which Loma had often delighted them.
Then their receptive abilities were exhausted and they
lost consciousness, and knew no more until they awoke
in the conservatory and found Loma regarding them
with his loving and exquisite smile.

CHAPTER XVII.

COMMERCE AND WEALTH.

"Give us this day our daily bread."

"We do not shatter for the sake of destruction. There is
not one of the old doctrines for which we do not substitute
what we believe to be better and more rational. We do not
take down a single structure of the past, but that we seek
to erect a more modern one and a better one in its stead. We
have never taken away ;iny belief, any cherished idea, without
standing ready to put in its place something that to us. at
least, seems nobler and more beautiful. To destroy for the
sake of instruction is without excuse. To destroy for the
sake of reconstruction is a work that is of <iod."

After the transcendent experience related in the last
chapter, Loma allowed his pupil to rest for several
days before he attempted any further instruction. He
desired the impression he had made to sink deeply into
her intelligence, and to create in her the ambition for
her son to become the means of introducing upon the
earth the conditions of happiness which she had been
permitted to observe. In after years this ambition
was to be her chief incentive to action, and the pro-
found impression was also designed to be made upon
her offspring, so thai he would be filled with the
loftiest desires of humanitarianism and philanthropy.
Consequently, while the morning sessions in the con-
servatory continued without interruption, they were

(245)

246 LOMA,

devoted to social intercourse, music, and such delight-
ful conversation as would in no wise fatigue, while
they gave Myrtle the opportunity to ask any question
which occurred to her.

The day following the clairvoyant vision of the meet-
ing of Loma's lovers upon Venus, she had, with his
approval, entered into a compact of Love with Doctor
Bell. As she expressed it, she considered that the
compact of Brotherhood had existed ever since she had
been an inmate of his home, and she certainly felt
that he was entitled to a higher degree. Toward Mrs.
Bell her relations were unchanged. Loma had pro-
nounced the compact of Motherhood, which Mrs. Bell
had extended to Myrtle upon their first meeting, as
the highest and holiest that could exist, and as there
were no national educators upon the earth who could
assume the education of the future prophet and teacher
who was to proceed from her womb, the compact of
Motherhood was held to be peculiarly appropriate.
Thus the social relations were organized, and for the
first time in many centuries, the correct relationships
of men and women were resumed on the earth. I say
resumed, for Loma had explained that Jesus had es-
tablished the same conditions, which he had designed
as the permanent conditions of his associates, and
which did continue until his admirable system was
destroyed through the machinations of priests and poli-
ticians.

About one week after his last session, Loma an-
nounced that he was ready to resume, and at the next

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 247

session in the conservatory Mrs. Bell began the con-
versation by saying:

"You have given us a masterly exposition of the
origin of your civilization, and the organization of so-
ciety upon a better basis. You have shown the superi-
ority of your system of education and the regulation
of the domestic relations, and after the marvelous
vision of your consort and lovers, which we were per-
mitted to enjoy, there is no doubt of the grandeur of
your institutions remaining in my mind. But when
we begin to teach your theories we will be met with
the proposition, that it is all impracticable, and that
the needs of the world cannot be met without the
present commercial stimulus. I would like to be in-
structed as to the way that the necessities of life are
produced and distributed, and what you use instead
of the present system of merchandise and money. Our
reformers all concede that the greatest obstacle we
have to contend with is our present system of money
and the measure and exchange of wealth, and the
system in current use among all civilized nations is
so unnatural, that, as you say, only those who have a
superior development of the financial sense can suc-
ceed."

"I will cheerfully comply with your request," said
Loma; "and all the more readily because the solu-
tion of the problem is comparatively simple. The
only reason you have not solved it upon the earth is
because your citizens are not working under the law
of mathematical equity. As soon as you recognize

248 LOMA,

the true character of wealth, you will have no trouble
in obtaining it, and when your conduct is regulated
by the law of mathematical equity, you will have no
loss in its distribution. To begin with, then, wealth
does not consist in the accumulation of property, nor
in the possession of a medium of exchange which will
purchase property. A man may have both and still
be exceedingly poor, as an inspection of the true con-
dition of your so-called wealthy citizens will imme-
diately disclose.

"The whole trouble with your financial system grows
out of the universal misconception which your citizens
have of the object of existence. Your citizens may be
divided into two classes. Those who are entirely ab-
sorbed in making money and accumulating property,
and those Avho are indifferent to this world's goods,
and who spend their time in comparative poverty, ab-
sorbed in religious or literary work, or perhaps in com-
plete idleness. The first class consume the years of
youth in a mad struggle for wealth, in the hope of
reaching enjoyment in the later years of life. The
majority of them die before these years are ever
reached, and those who do live to an advanced age
find that they have lost the capacity for enjoyment.
The second class lose much of the development and
enjoyment which rightfully belongs to them by not
having the possession of the necessaries of life. Now
these conditions are bound to remain until the citizens
of this world learn the simple lesson, that the purpose

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 349

of life is growth and enjoyment, and that the true defi-
nition of wealth is the power to gratify desire.

"Let me illustrate. A youth desires to visit a for-
eign country. He works at a trade and accumulates
sufficient money to gratify his desire. In this case the
money is wealth. A millionaire desires to take the
same journey, but is prevented by poor health. In this
rase his money is not wealth, and he is not, in fact,
as wealthy as the youth who, on arriving at his jour-
ney's end, finds himself without money but in the pos-
session of enjoyment. The millionaire recovers and
makes the journey. His money and his health con-
stitute wealth. A chemist is anxious to try an ex-
periment and make a new discovery. He is deficient
in education, and for lack of information his experi-
ment is a failure. He pursues a course of study, fiuds
the missing information, makes a brilliant perform-
ance, and immortalizes himself. In this case the edu-
cation, giving the information, is wealth. From these
examples it is easy to see that the power to gratify
desire is wealth. Now, on this planet, you have created
conditions which deprive your citizens of all develop-
ment, unless they can pay for it in money. Services
are considered of little account, and poorly paid Cor
when rendered, hence your people are under the uni-
versal misapprehension that money is wealth, or prop-
erty which can be converted into money is wealth, be-
cause it is impossible to gratify desire without it. As
n consequence of this misapprehension you are all
miserably poor, and even your millionaires are not

250 LOMA,

wealthy, for they have no healthy standards of desire,
they do not cultivate enjoyment intelligently, and, as a
consequence, they have a vast number of unnatural and
evil desires which cannot be satisfied, and many of their
best desires are unsatisfied, because the unnatural
system under which you are working destroys the
working capacity of those who would be able to satisfy
the natural desires of all if they had the opportunity.
I will give you a single example. We will suppose the
case of a millionaire who desires to gratify his friends
and himself with the finest class of music. Now the
working of your unfortunate system has deprived a
large number of your citizens who have musical talent
of an education, and their talent has remained unde-
veloped. Your millionaire, therefore, finds that musi-
cians are scarce, of the kind and quality he desires,
and while a few exist, he finds to his mortification that
they have all been engaged by one of his rivals, and
he is obliged to postpone his entertainment until they
can be had. Such instances are constantly occurring,
and disappointment and dissatisfaction is the rule,
even among your wealthy ones, and it is probably
true that your working classes are the most wealthy
after all, in one sense, because their desires are more
natural and more usually satisfied.

"As soon as the law of mathematical equity was in-
troduced into our civilization, as I have described to
you, a better system was at once evolved. Our finan-
ciers discovered that the true essence of wealth did
not consist in the accumulation of vast aggregations

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 251

of property or money, but in having such a condition
in society as would insure to every citizen the greatest
possible facilities for the gratification of all natural
desires. As soon as this was established in the intel-
ligence of our financiers, they went about producing it.
It naturally followed that they discovered that the
only way to secure it for themselves was to make it
the universal rule of society, and that the only way
to secure it for all was by the introduction of a com-
plete education for every citizen, and the application
of the rule of absolute and universal justice, Avhich
secured for every citizen his share in the common-
wealth, irrespective of his own financial ability.

"You will remember, that, by the operation of the
new system, as I have already described, the actual
labor required in society was reduced at least nine-
tenths, and that the working hours of all of our citi-
zens were reduced to four hours per day. This in
itself made a vast difference in the condition of our
citizens, and gave them a wealth of time, which is
the first element in the gratification of any desire. I
have also explained to you that there was an immense
increase in the productive capacity of the workers by
the improvements in machinery and every element of
production, which was still further greatly increased
by the extension of education to every citizen, and by
the fact, that he had time to improve himself and his
working capacity. You can readily understand, there-
fore, that every community soon found itself sur-
charged with everything that was necessary for the

252 LOMA,

gratification of the desires of its citizens. As no one
was interested in holding these productions for any
market, they were, of course, at the disposal of any
citizen who had a desire to be satisfied. All that was
necessary to be done was to appoint an administrative
force, which preserved the property and saw that it
was given in good condition, and then every citizen
was at liberty to help himself. You will observe, that
the source of supply was the government, and that a
citizen was not expected to appropriate the property
of another citizen. There was no reason why he should
do so, for he could obtain anything he wanted at the
government bureaus. For instance, if a citizen of
Venus decides that he wishes to establish a home, he
goes to the government bureau of real estate and states
his desire, and he selects whatever location he wishes
that is not already occupied. He is not permitted to
occupy any more ground than he can use to a good
advantage and keep in excellent condition. He states
in his application the kind of an establishment he de-
sires to maintain, and if his request is in accord with
equity and decency, he has everything furnished to
him in short order. The house is built as he desires
it, and he calls on the various bureaus for the furnish-
ings. He is permitted to own these things and enjoy
them as long as he lives and makes use of them. If
he abandons them, or if he dies, the property reverts
to the government, and such as is valuable is pre-
served, and everything which is not valuable is de-
stroyed. The law of mathematical equity, which is

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 253

such an important part of every citizen's education,
regulates his desires, aud he is not likely to ask for
anything which is unreasonable. In fact, this system
is its own great regulator, for as soon as a man finds
that he can gratify his desires at will, he does not
encumber himself with a great deal of property. Most
of our citizens live in the government hotels, which
are excellently conducted, aud very few require more
than two rooms. There are some who prefer to reside
in one place nearly all of their lives, but the most of
us are migratory, especially after the years of profes-
sional service, and so there is not much demand for
permanent homes. The introduction of this system
completely destroyed the production of large cities.
The crowding together of so uiauy persons, and the
inconvenience and misery which is so noticeable in all
of your large cities, was abolished. Instead, the pop-
ulation was distributed over a large area, and as we
soon developed the most excellent facilities for trans-
portation, there was no necessity for anything of the
kind. The country was divided into townships, and in
each of these a government storehouse was established,
which supplied every article of merchandise, in the
very best quality, to every citizen upon demand. The
distribution of food and all of the necessities of life
being done without competition, there was no neces-
sity for the multitudinous stores and trade shops
which cumber your cities and pollute the atmosphere
with decay. As a large majority of our citizens are
under the direct jurisdiction of the government dur-

254 LOMA.

ing the three first decades of education, and the fourth
decade which is devoted to the professional employ-
ment, and the mothers and most of the fathers are
quartered in the palaces of maternity, under the same
jurisdiction, you see that the supply of necessities is
carried on with the same perfection that your country
would supply as many soldiers, only that the soldiers
are provided with the best of everything, which is not
the case in your army. Our people are not engaged
in commerce, and the most that there is to do in the
management of the problem of supply, is to provide
food, education, house room and fine sanitary condi-
tions for our people, and the rest of the problem is
simply how to produce the most enjoyment, which is
left to the intelligence of the people, after they are
properly educated, and they have no difficulty in solv-
ing it."

"The trouble would be, on the earth, if such a system
could be introduced, that the criminal classes would
be rampant, and there would be no means of con-
trolling them from appropriating the best of every-
thing," said Doctor Bell. "The great majority of our
citizens are only held to good conduct by the pressure
of poverty, and if they could gratify their desires at
will, as you say your citizens do, they would plunge
into every form of dissipation. How do you prevent
this on Venus?"

"Such a system cannot be introduced until the peo-
ple are prepared for it by education," answered Loma.
"You must remember that we did not reaeh our pres-

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 255

cut liberties by a single bound, but that they are the
natural consequence of the application of the great
principles of Gallheiin's code. You must first com-
prehend the nature of man, then you must study each
individual and improve him, then the great principle
of the improvement of the race must be made the pa-
triotic duty of every citizen, and then, when you have
produced a generation of good men and women by this
obedience to natural law, they will be able to learn the
law of mathematical equity and follow it. It would be
impossible for you to take a collection of Chicago busi-
ness men and teach them the law of mathematical
equity. They might be able to comprehend the prin-
ciple involved, but they would not live up to it, for their
entire discipline up to this time has been against it.
They have been taught to violate equity all the time,
and the one who could violate it in the shrewdest way
and make the most money by so doing, without laying
himself liable to indictment for positive crime, has
been the most applauded. But if the children of these
same business men were educated to a full comprehen-
sion of the law, and were made to understand the prac-
tical application of it, and they were made to compre-
hend that the possession of wealth, social position,
beauty and happiness depended upon the observation
of the law, you would have an altogether different set
of conditions, and there would be a marked improve-
ment in the conduct of the young generation, as com-
pared with the old.

"The vitality of our system, however, depends upon

256 LOMA,

the fact, that we constantly appeal to the strongest
faculties of all of our citizens, to induce them to obey
the law. Under your system, you appeal only to the
fear of poverty and the sense of commercial value.
Our citizens learn in early youth that all of their wants
will be supplied, and all that is required of them is to
reach the highest form of culture. Now, the desire for
personal beauty and the love of applause are two of
the strongest incentives to human action. There is
hardly a young man or woman in the world who is in-
different to personal appearance, and the desire to be
considered beautiful, and to stand well in society, is a
ruling passion even on this earth, where the principles
of right living are so little understood. Now, if you
convince the young man or woman, that, by conform-
ing to a certain law of propriety, they can achieve both
of these desires, and they see the results of obedience
in the beauty and acknowledged excellence of their
associates, it is not unreasonable to believe that a
strong effort will be made to obey the law. Now add
to these strong motives the knowledge which is im-
parted by our complete system of education, and you
will see, at once, that the attainment of the excellence
which I have described is not only practicable but ex-
tremely easy."

"I can readily understand how, in each township,
these regulations can be carried into effect, where
every citizen is known and his right to an establish-
ment in the commonwealth is proved. But I have not
yet comprehended how you manage the matter with

A CITIZEN OF VIONTS. 257

strangers. Suppose that tins system were uow in
force here, and our citizens were advanced sufficiently
in education to practice it, how can a citizen of Chicago
go to New York, where he is not known, and be recog-
nized as having a right to his entertainment? How
do you prevent your different communities from being
imposed upon?" asked Myrtle.

"The habitable portions of our globe are divided into
states, about the size of the state of Illinois," said
Loma, "and these states into counties and townships,
very much as you have them here. This is only a mat-
ter of convenience for the administration of justice, for
the whole world is governed in the same way, and we
have adopted the same language and social customs.
Until a citizen is forty years of age, his duties confine
him necessarily to his own state, to a great extent, ex-
cept when he goes upon an excursion on leave of ab-
sence. But the limitation of population, as practiced
upon Venus, makes it possible for our officials to keep
an accurate record of every citizen, and his stage of
development and personal appearance. Every citizen
is numbered, according to his class and place where he
resides. In this way, the officials of every state are
able to be responsible for the identity and standing of
every citizen. Here, again, you have an example of
the inestimable value of a complete education and the
law of mathematical equity. We have no criminals,
and we have no citizens who would be guilty of an at-
tempt to defraud. Each citizen starts right when he
leaves his mother's breast and becomes subject to

17

258 LOMA,

the jurisdiction which is to educate and protect him
through life. As a consequence, such a thing as a citi-
zen attempting to defraud any sister community is un-
heard of. There is no necessity for it, for he can ob
tain everything he desires in a perfectly legitimate
manner. To insure his protection, however, and for
the identification of his body in case of accident or
death, each citizen has his number and the place of his
birth indelibly placed upon his body, under his right
arm." And Loma lifted his right arm from his side
and displayed a small tattoo mark of the figures 2 — 8
—124—35.

"These figures I will translate as follows," said
Loma. "The figure 2 stands for the state of my birth,
the figure 8 for the township, 124 is my number, which
means that my birth was the one hundred and twenty-
fourth which had occurred in that township that year,
which is indicated by the last number, as the thirty-
fifth year of the present century, according to our cal-
endar, which, of course, does not agree with yours. By
these numbers and the careful record which has been
kept of every important event in my career, it is easy
enough to identify me at any place on the globe. The
date of my birth being known, the officials of any com-
munity know about what stage of my development I
represent, and my claims, of course, would have to cor-
respond. If there was any attempt on my part to be
absent from my duties at home, my absence would at
once be noted, and my number would be advertised
through the official gazettes throughout the world. In

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 259

the absence of such a notice, the officials of the various
states take no notice of the passage of a stranger
through their jurisdictions, as the presumption is that
he is entitled to all that he claims. Here we have a
chance to cultivate hospitality as it is altogether un-
known on the earth. The moment a stranger appears
at one of the government hotels in any state, and reg-
isters as hailing from another, he is at once made the
recipient of every possible social courtesy. Every state
has a local pride in its hospitality, and the possibility
of a stranger being snubbed or neglected is not to be
thought of. As soon as he introduces himself, and in-
dicates his desires, every facility is placed at his dis-
posal. Of course, by consulting the official gazette,
his social standing is at once known, and he is ex-
pected to maintain his reputation. Therefore, to an-
swer your question, if a citizen of Chicago' were to go
to New York under the conditions which prevail upon
Venus, he would be very likely to have such a delight-
ful experience as one of your citizens at present could
scarcely comprehend."

"This is great!" exclaimed Doctor Bell. "I attended
the triennial conclave of the Knights Templar, with my
commandery, at Boston, the month before you arrived
on this earth, and I thought then we had a delightful
experience in the hospitality of that cultured city, but
I imagine that your civilization could teach us much
we do not know in this direction."

"I took a similar excursion upon Venus, about the
same time," said Loma, "and T will describe it to vou

260 LOMA,

and let you compare the entertainment. The occasion
was the meeting of the Association of Scientists for
the Promotion of Inter-Planetary Correspondence, of
which I am a member, and which numbers something
over thirty thousand members. We met at the city of
Delicia, which is on the opposite side of the globe
from the city of my residence. Our transportation
was effected in air-ships, which are in common use on
Venus, and which are sumptuously furnished beyond
anything }ou have here. Of course, this was all fur-
nished by the government of our respective states, but
when we arrived at Delicia, we were royally enter-
tained, for a whole month, by the citizens without any
expense to us. Everything we could use was bounti-
fully provided, and in the fullest sense we niade our-
selves at home. Now, if I am correctly informed, the
people of Boston felt that they were giving you a splen-
did example of hospitality when they permitted you
to come on their ground and exist without raising the
hotel prices beyond the usual schedule, and it is hardly
unjust to say that the chief reason which actuated
their committee in securing the conclave for Boston
was the large amount of money which would be spent
by the knights during their sojourn in the city. Now,
such an example as that would be regarded on Venus
as anything but hospitality. Such a condition of
things would not be tolerated for an instant in any
of our states, and any city which would make an
effort to secure visitors for the hope of pecuniary gain
would be ostracised from the social compact, until

A CITIZEN OP VENUS. 261

such time as it reformed its methods, and the
officials of such a city would be forever disgraced.
Under our system, such a thing could not occur.

"But the grandeur and beauty of our institutions are
shown in our treatment of those who have faithfully
served their time and have reached the age of forty
years. After that age, the citizen is master of his own
time and he can gratify any of the desires of his na-
ture. He is bound by no law but that of decency, and
his education has been so complete that he is not only
certain to behave himself, but he has developed the
capacity for enjoyment. Wherever he goes, he is made
the recipient of the most delightful social courtesies,
and life becomes a poem of pleasure. He has earned
his living and his honors, and the closing years of his
life are absolutely free from care and anxiety. Under
such conditions enjoyment is possible, and the young
citizen who witnesses the delights of the old is stim-
ulated constantly to the emulation of their virtues.''

"There is one objection which is constantly urged by
the opponents of socialism to this class of reform,"
said Mrs. Bell, "upon which I would like to have the
benefit of your experience. It is urged that it will be
impossible for any one to be persuaded to adopt that
class of work which is now considered menial. It is
conceded that, if there were nothing but the profes-
sional employments to be considered, the adjustment
might be made. But under the new system, which
contemplates a just division of labor, who is to per-
form the disagreeable tasks?"

262 LOMA,

"Most of the difficulty comes from the conception
which has been implanted in the minds of your citi-
zens by your social customs, that certain kinds of em-
ployment are degrading, because, being in a manner
disagreeable, these occupations have been assigned to
slaves and those who by poverty were obliged to serve
as slaves. This is merely a product of human selfish-
ness. Under our system all of this is changed. It is
considered just as honorable to wait upon the table
at a government hotel as it is to write the records in
a government office. All labor is honorable, and if
any task occurs which is disagreeable, it is consid-
ered all the more honorable on that account, because
it involves a certain amount of self-sacrifice, and those
persons who devote themselves to its performance are
rewarded by a higher degree of social standing, on
account of the nature of the work. Every citizen is
credited with a certain number of marks of merit for
his services, and if there is any work to be done which
is specially disagreeable or dangerous, there is a higher
credit allowed. The result is, that the government
has no dearth of applications for that kind of employ-
ment, because it offers the shortest and quickest ave-
nue to social preferment. To make this more plain, I
will show you how I have added materially to my own
standing. In my profession as a scientist, I receive
one thousand marks annually for the faithful per-
formance of my duties. I received this emolument ten
years as an apprentice and five years as a professor,
which would entitle me to fifteen thousand marks. But

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 263

during my apprenticeship I also served as a volunteer
laborer in the construction of one of our large ship
canals. I did this partly for the physical development
it gave me, in working in the excavations two hours
per day, but during that time I earned in two years
eight hundred additional marks. I was awarded sev-
enteen hundred marks one day for saving the life of
a fellow laborer under dangerous circumstances, and
during my professional career of five years, I have in-
creased my regular emolument to the extent of three
thousand and four hundred marks. This gives me a pres-
ent professional standing of twenty thousand and nine
hundred marks, which is considered a highly credita-
ble record, and if I pleased, when I reached the number
of twenty thousand, which would represent the re-
quired earnings of two decades, I could have applied
for a discharge and I would have been released, the
same as I will be by operation of time when I reach
the age of forty. But I preferred to remain in the
professional ranks, as most of our citizens do, and if
I am successful in my present undertaking, I will be
enrolled among the members of the Academy of Heroes.
Those who reach this distinction are no longer graded.
The social number is lost in the brilliancy of the
achievement, and it is the highest honor to which a
citizen of Venus can attain, that no figures appear
opposite his name in the official gazette."

"What special advantage is it, to have a high social
standing, in a world where all the citizens have so
many privileges?" asked Myrtle.

264 LOMA,

"The principal advantage is the satisfaction which
conies from being the object of the admiration of our
fellow citizens. This is always one of the strongest
incentives to human activity, but while your citizens
seek this admiration by accumulating wealth and by
displaj^ in dress, our citizens have no means of
obtaining it except by good conduct. Of course, the
possession of a high degree of social standing entitles
the citizen to special favor at all public functions, and
at the theaters and places of amusement the matter
of social position is important, if the occasion is a
formal one. There is a marked difference in our
formal and informal occasions. At the former, the
utmost attention is paid to rendering great respect to
those who are entitled to it by reason of a distin-
guished record. At the informal occasions, however,
all of this is disregarded, and the genius who has been
enrolled in the Academy of Heroes associates on the
same level with the youngest member of the profes-
sional ranks. In this way the young receive the en-
couragement of those who have distinguished them-
selves, by intimate association, while due honor is ren-
dered at the proper time. In the fullest sense, our
people have learned to do everything decently and in
order."

CHAPTER XVIII.

IMMORALITIES OP CHRISTIANITY.

"Woo unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye
are like unto whited sepulchers, which indeed appear beautiful
without, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all
uncleanness."

"What! Shall I call on that infinite lovo that has served us so well?
Infinite wickedness, rather, that made everlasting hell!
Made us, foreknew us, foredoomed us, and does what he will with his

own?
Better our dead brute mother who never has beard us groan!
The god of love and hell together, they can not be thought.
If there be such a god may the great God curse him and bring him

to naught.
Blasphemy? I have scared you pale with my scandalous talk;
But the blasphemy to my mind is all in the way you walk."

Since the reconciliation of Myrtle and her uncle, the
latter had been a frequent visitor at the residence of
the Bells. Myrtle had also been made happy by fre-
quent visits from her aunt, his sister, and many tokens
of their love were received by the young mother as
the time for her approaching parturition drew near.
Mr. McDonald, when stripped of the crust of phari-
seeism which had hitherto obscured his virtues, was
in reality a most liberal and genial man. He became
devotedly attached to Doctor Bell, but he regarded
Loma with respectful awe, for he was sufficiently acute
to know that the latter was the most extraordinary
man he had ever met, and while he had not been taken

(266)

266 LOMA,

into confidence as to the origin of the citizen of Venus,
he was quite sure that he was not merely a cultivated
and scholarly physician. He had a strong element of
the superstitious in his nature, and was inclined to
regard Loma as a genius gifted with supernatural
power.

No attempt had been made by either Loma or Doctor
Bell to engage him in conversation in regard to re:
ligion. He spent most of his time when calling in the
parlor with the ladies, or in the library in friendly con-
versation with the doctor, who always encouraged him
to make himself completely at home. Mr. McDonald
was a gifted conversationalist, and being of pure
Scotch blood, he was not wanting in wit and pungency
in his remarks. He had been educated for the min-
istry of the Presbyterian church, but having a stronger
taste for commerce, and having inherited a large for-
tune, which he had been shrewd enough to greatly in-
crease, he had engaged in banking, and was at the
time the president of one of the leading national banks
of Chicago.

One day, when at the pressing invitation of Mrs.
Bell he had remained to dine with the family, the con-
versation accidentally turned upon religion. When
the subject was mentioned, he turned rather abruptly
to Doctor Bell and remarked:

"I am anxious to be instructed in the elements of
the religion you profess. When I first became ac-
quainted with you, I was told you were all atheists,
which was at that time sufficient to fill me wiih the

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 267

greatest aversion, and I would not have considered
you capable of any good action. But the peculiar cir-
cumstances which have resulted in compelling me to
know you better have forced upon me the conviction
that you are animated by a spirit of benevolence and
goodness which is stronger than I have experienced
elsewhere. Until I became acquainted with the mem-
bers of this family, I did not believe that any person
could be good who was not a Christian. With the
people of my religious belief, Christianity and good-
ness are synonymous, and we have come to believe that
all goodness has originated in Christianity."

"We believed even more than that, uncle," said Myr-
tle, smiling, "for in Sunday school I have often heard the
teachers say, that all the goodness which was pos-
sessed by people who were not Christians was ab-
sorbed by them, in a manner, from those who were.v

"True, my child," said her uncle, thoughtfully. "I,
myself, have made statements to my class which
amounted to the same thing. But more serious con-
sideration has caused me to reconsider that decision.
There have been good men in nations who have not
heard of Christianity, and there must be some other
source of human righteousness. At all events I am
now liberal enough to hear both sides, and while I
would be loth to surrender the inestimable benefits of
the Christian religion, I am willing to learn. I am
sure of one thing, and that is, the Christian churches
of to-day are no1 doing their duty. We have relapsed

268 LOMA,

into a formalism which destroys the spirit of the gos-
pel to a great degree."

"I would be unwilling to force upon you a discus-
sion which might be distasteful to you," said Doctor
Bell; "but if you are inclined to listen to a complete
exposition of what we regard as the immoralities of
Christianity, I am quite sure that our brother Loma
will take pleasure in considering them for the benefit
of us all."

"Immoralities! Do you mean to say that Chris-
tianity is immoral? I have often heard it arraigned
as lax and the churches criticised for their want of
zeal, but I have never met any one who s so bold as
to say that Christianity was immoral."

"I suggested that the discussion would possibly uot
be pleasing to you, and if you please, we will drop the
subject, for it is a principle with us to allow every one
to enjoy his religious convictions unmolested."

"I am not a bigot," said Mr. McDonald, with dignity;
"and, as I said before, I am anxious to be informed.
If you can show that Christianity is immoral, I would
abandon Christianity at once. I do not think you can
do so, and I will not be offended at you if you will
speak freely and defend your remarkable doctrines to
the utmost. You will, of course, allow me the freedom
of questioning you?"

"Certainly," said Loma. "If we go into this discus-
sion at all, I shall be pleased to have you propound
any question you desire. I shall speak plainly, as I
desire Myrtle to be impressed with what I shall say.

A CITIZEN OF VENUS.

269

But I wish you to be clear as to my position. I shall
not. claim that the teachings of Jesus are immoral, for
he derived his authority from the same school from
which I claim mine. By 'Christianity' in this discussion
we will understand the doctrines which are agreed
upon by the so-called 'orthodox' churches, as consti-
tuting the plan of salvation, through the atonement of
Jesus."

"That is well understood," said Mr. McDonald.
"Now, let us see if we can agree upon a substantial
statement of those doctrines," said Loma. "I will
formulate them into propositions, as follows:

"First — That there is one God, composed of three
persons, a Father, Son and Holy Spirit, jointly con-
stituting the Creator of the universe and originating
all good, who is omnipotent and omniscient.

"Second — That there is an arch-fiend, called Satan,
who originates all evil, and constantly wars with the
triune God, besides vexing men to evil deeds.

"Third — That there is a place called heaven, the res-
idence of the triune God, and a place called hell, the
residence of Satan. That those persons who believe
on the Son will eventually be taken to heaven to re-
side there eternally, enjoying eternal happiness, while
those who do not believe will eventually be consigned
to hell, to suffer endless torment. That the sole con-
dition of salvation is belief on the Son, who is usually
called the Lord Jesus Christ, and is identical with the
man Jesus who was born of the Virgin Mary in Pal-
estine, nearly nineteen hundred years ago.

270 LOMA,

"Fourth — That man, by reason of innate depravity,
had become wholly alienated from God, and because
of his natural tendency to sin, was guilty of a form of
depravity which justified his eternal punishment in
hell. That to appease the wrath of the Father, the
Son came down to earth and was incarnate by the
Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary, proclaimed the doc-
trine of salvation through his death, and did actually
suffer and die, to appease the wrath of his Father, and
by his sufferings and death, made such a sacrifice, that
the wrath of the Father was appeased toward all those
persons who would thereafter believe on the Son.

"Fifth — That this sole condition of salvation, viz.,
belief on the Son, applies to all men that have been
born since the atonement of Jesus was made, and will
apply to all future generations. That the substantial
requirements of this belief are, that Jesus died, rose
again miraculously from the dead, that he returned to
heaven, that he is God, and that this belief will, when
conscientiously followed, secure for the believer a resi-
dence in heaven after death.

"Is this a fair statement of the essentials?"

"I do not see that you have omitted any important
doctrine that is considered essential to salvation.*'

"Very well. Now I will state my reasons for con-
sidering the doctrines immoral. Before I do so, how-
ever, I will define immorality. That is moral which
conduces to the understanding and practice of the
truth. Whatever tends to teach untruth, or which will
stupefy the intellect of man so that he will not be able

A CITIZEN OP VENDS. 271

to understand the truth when it is presented to him,
is immoral. Immorality is therefore that quality of a
doctrine, action or thing which causes it to work an
injury instead of a benefit."

"I will agree to that definition," said Mr. McDonald,
promptly.

"The first proof of the immorality of this creed,"
said Loma, "is found in its being contradictory in its
statements. Passing over the doctrine of the trinity,
and supposing that it is capable of being explained on
the basis of a partnership, or some form of association
of its members, the second and first positions are hope-
lessly irreconcilable, because if the triune God is om-
nipotent and omniscient, and he permits the existence
of Satan, he thereby becomes particcps cri minis in the
origin of evil, and Satan becomes one of the quartette
of gods, and by no means the least important member.
Your omnipotent, all-wise Creator is thus shown to
be the Arch-Conspirator against human happiness, and
directly responsible for all the evil that exists. Now.
this is an absurdity, and hence a doctrine which re-
quires the intelligence of man to accept that which is
logically absurd, trains his intellect against sound rea-
son, and unfits him for the reception and understand-
ing of the truth when it is presented to him."

"But may we not believe," interrupted Mr. McDonald,
"that God permits the existence of evil for a purpose
we may not be able to understand?"

"Not when our own salvation depends on the condi-
tions here stated. We are required to believe on the

272 LOMA,

Son, who is presented to our comprehension as one
form of this God, and whose mission is to lead us into
a perfect state. We are required to believe that God
is good. Now, if the creed presents him to us as a par-
ticipant in evil, we are thereby led to believe that it
is consistent with perfect righteousness to connive at
evil, and we are encouraged to the same course our-
selves, having God constantly before us as an exam-
ple. It is perfectly consistent with good morals to
believe in a supreme power who is all-wise, all-power-
ful and wholly good, but Christianity does not take
that view of it. It insists upon the recognition of
Satan, and thereby destroys the moral character of
the triune God."

"But did not Jesus, himself, recognize the existence
of the devil, and did he not cast out devils, and is not
this proposition clearly founded on his teachings?"

"Most of the passages of the Bible in which this doc-
trine is ascribed to Jesus require a very strained con-
struction to admit of" such a belief. But even sup-
posing that he did use the language which is at-
tributed to him, and allowing nothing for the exagger-
ation of the writer of the history, interpolations and
the lapse of time, you will not be able to find a passage
where Jesus teaches that this belief is essential to sal-
vation. The belief in devils of various kinds was prac-
tically universal in that superstitious period, and it
is very reasonable that Jesus spoke in the language
which his hearers were likely to understand, without
entering into a controversy upon a nonessential

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 273

which he knew must disappear before the expanding
intelligence of mankind. Yon will not find that a
belief in Satan is at all essential to the system of
ethics which he inculcated. But whether he did or
not, is not essential. The ultimate test of a doctrine
is whether it accords with reason and truth, and not
with the teachings of any philosopher. The greatest
proof of the immorality of this doctrine is that it con-
tradicts itself. If man is responsible for believing,
and he is exposed to conditions which destroy his be-
lief, with the consent of God, then God is responsible
for the unbelief and not the man. This is another
absurdity.

"A still greater proof of the immorality of this creed
is found in the third proposition. According to this
proposition, man is bribed to believe, by a promise of
endless bliss in heaven. This destroys the moral
sense of man by educating him to do right for the sake
of reward, and not for the sake of righteousness. He
is also urged to do the will of God, and to believe,
through the fear of hell. Thus, hope of reward and
fear of pain are the two principal motives appealed to,
and these are set forth as the results of the relative
powers of God and Satan. Because God is the most
powerful, he is able to offer heaven to the believer, and
to punish him in hell for his unbelief. The promi-
nence given to these motives destroys all education of
the other powers of man, and keeps him in slavery to
his abject fear and his love of gain. The conception
of God inculcated by these motives is that of an abso

18

274 LOMA,

lute tyrant, and this tends to make the man who serves
and worships this conception a tyrant also. The sole
condition of salvation is made a belief in something
which is contrary to the usual order of things, and
thus, while the curiosity of man is excited, he is for-
bidden to reason about it, because if he does, he will
be in danger of disbelieving. This stupefies his in-
telligence and he is constrained to believe through his
strongly excited fear and his hardly less strongly ex-
cited cupidity."

"Indeed, sir, I have never considered it in this light,"
exclaimed Mr. McDonald. "It has never occurred to
me, that the hope of reward in heaven and the fear of
punishment in hell are unworthy motives."

"They are not unworthy motives, except in so far as
they are made paramount to all other motives. If the
emotions of fear and the love of gain were only two
of the incidents of this creed, there would be no criti-
cism of it on that account. These emotions are made
a part of man by the nature of his constitution, and
are therefore not to be despised. But when they are
appealed to as the chief motives of human conduct,
to the exclusion and, in fact, destruction of the other
motives which should form a part of the impulses to
correct judgment, the result is stupefaction instead
of enlightenment, and the agency which accomplishes
this must be condemned as immoral. A still greater
proof of immorality is found in the doctrine of eternal
punishment, visited by God upon those who fail to
accept the belief of the creed. The constant worship

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 275

of a being' of infinite cruelty lends to make men cruel
themselves, and this belief is directly responsible for
the fact that men in all ages have imprisoned and tor-
tured their fellow men who would not believe as they
did. The fact that this same conduct was one of the
chief attributes of the God they had been taught from
infancy to adore, justified them in following his ex-
ample. Now we believe that goodness means justice
and kindness, at ail times and places, toward every
creature, under all circumstances. We believe that
Nature is altogether good, that there is no positive
evil, and this conception fortifies us constantly id the
exercise of kindness toward all creatures.

"The fourth proposition, on its ban1 statement, con-
victs your omnipotent God of imbecility or insanity,
according to the way you look at it. If he was om-
nipotent, and he created man in such a condition that
he is innately depraved, then man is merely as it
pleased Trod to have him, and God has no right to feel
wrath toward that which exists by reason of his own
desire. If he is angry at man for being as he desired
him to be, then he is insane. If, on the contrary, man
has acquired his depravity by reason of his opposition
to the will of God, then God is imbecile, or tie would
have prevented it. To allow man to become depraved
when he could have prevented it. and then to punish
him for it, is the act of an insane savage. The fact
that his wrath was of that character that it could only
be appeased by a bloody sacrifice, also convicts him of
savagery, and the further fad. that he imposed or per-

276 LOMA,

mitted the burden to be imposed upon his own son,
shows that he was destitute of the most ordinary in-
stincts of affection. The whole idea of the atonement
is based upon the principle of retaliation, which is
always brutal; it inculcates the principle of revenge,
which is directly contrary to the teachings of Jesus,
and it is directly responsible for neutralizing the effect
of the greatest efforts made by Jesus toward placing
the world upon a higher plane of action.

"The last proposition we have formulated, however,
has still additional proofs of the immorality of the
system. It inculcates the idea of a trial and a judg-
ment before the accused has come into existence. This
is the essence of injustice, and as immorality is always
the result of injustice in some form, it creates the
fundamental condition which produces all the immo-
rality that exists. There can be no morality without
fairness. The conception of a God who judges before
the crime is committed, and who consigns endless
myriads of human beings to torment in advance, has
familiarized the human intelligence with infinite in-
justice, and made it a thing to be admired and followed
as nearly as is practicable. It is not wonderful, in
this view of the facts, that injustice prevails, and that
the cultivation of the moral sense has not been known
among Christian nations."

"Indeed, sir, you astonish me," said Mr. McDonald.
"I had not supposed that such statements could be made
with any degree of plausibility against a system of
religion and morals that I have been taught to revere

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 277

from uiy youth up. But I am far from being con-
vinced that you are right, and it seems to me that you
are judging the conduct of God by purely human stand-
ards."

"All standards are human that can he comprehended
by human intellects. rf your God will not stand
the test when judged by human standards, we can
hardly hope for a better result when standards of a
higher degree are applied. We are required to believe
with a human intelligence. In the very nature of
things, what we are required to believe must be con-
sistent with human reason. If it is contrary to rea-
son, justice requires us to reject it. It has been well
said that the man who will not reason is a bigot, the
man who dares not reason is a coward, and the man
who cannot reason is a fool."

"It seems to me," said Mr. McDonald, "that this con-
ception of the wrath of God, and the fear of eternal
punishment in hell, is necessary to hold the evil pas-
sions of men in check. If this fear was removed I do
not discern what would prevent men from running riot
in every form of crime and excess."

"You have entirely overlooked the strongest factor
in human conduct, the natural impulse of every man
to do right. Experience and observation have shown
thai even the worst criminals do right oftener than
they do wrong, when the sum total of all their actions
is taken into account. The ordinary citizen docs right
nearly all the time, or so nearly so that his obliqui-
ties are so trilling thai they arc not considered

278 LOMA,

important. Think of the thousands of laborers in this
city who will toil all day without committing any
wrong, and whose work will be so perfect that the
commerce of the world will glide along without fric-
tion. If it were not for the fact that humanity is nat-
urally good, you would have anarchy at once, for the
sense of fear is not strong enough in the majority of
men to deter them from following the dictates of their
wills. When we consider the efforts that have been
made to stupefy men with fear, it is remarkable what
good conduct is the rule. Fear is always brutalizing,
whenever it gets the mastery of a man. It is true that
most criminals are cowards. Therefore, if we wish to
eliminate the criminal from society, we must com-
mence by educating men to be brave."

"If there is no innate depravity in the nature of man,
how do you account for the prevalence of crime?
There is a desperate lot of wickednes.s in the world
from some cause, and ail the efforts of teachers, law-
makers, and philanthropists have not succeeded in
eliminating it to any appreciable extent. On the con-
trary, the world seems to be growing worse every day."

"The world is not growing worse, but man is be-
coming more enlightened, and is therefore made to
realize more and more the existence of discord, and
the necessity for removing it. He therefore becomes
more conscious of the conditions that surround him,
and his moral sense is becoming awakened. As soon
as he becomes sufficiently enlightened, and learns his
own nature, and adopts a rational system of charac-

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 279

ter study, lie will progress very rapidly toward a bet-
ter condition, and will ultimately reach it. But be-
fore he can do this, he must abandon the idea of his
dependence upon supernatural agencies, mid learn to
regard himself as a natural product and subject to
the same great laws which govern the growth of the
objects which surround him. Man is now struggling
with two serious misconceptions. The first is, that
he is more highly favored of the gods than any other
creature, ami for that reason he trusts to the gods to
do for him that which must come as the result of his
own effort. The most conspicuous example of the per-
nicious working of this misconception is in the gen-
eration of his offspring, which he trusts wholly to the
providence of his gods, instead of applying the well-
known laws of reproduction, which he has so success-
fully applied to the generation of animals and veg-
etables. Because he regards animals and vegetables
as under his own jurisdiction, he uses his intelligence
with the happiest results. Because he regards his
own offspring as under the jurisdiction of the gods,
he neglects his duty in the study of human culture
with disastrous results. The second misconception is,
oddly enough, the antithesis of the first. It consists
in regarding his own nature as wholly depraved. This
doctrine has clothed humanity in one universal dis-
grace and destroyed the possibility of self-respect. As
long as it is permitted to cloud the human intellect,
it will render the world a penitentiary. Put a man
in convict's clothing, and he will commit crimes of

280 LOMA.

which he is incapable in the garb of a freeman. Until
this misconception is removed, man will be a criminal
in as much as he has allowed this idea to influence his
conduct."

"If this view of the case is true, it seems to me that
all men would be criminals. The strongest objection
I can bring against your argument, and one which
seems to me to be conclusive, is that those nations
which have achieved the greatest advancement have
been those in which Christianity has obtained the
strongest foothold. If these doctrines have the effect
which you ascribe to them, I do not see what has pre-
vented the Christian nations from becoming the most
barbarous. But we certainly compare favorably with
the Mohammedan nations and with the civilization of
the oriental nations where Christianity has been un-
known," said Mr. McDonald, with spirit.

"Your argument is not conclusive, for two reasons,"
rejoined Loma. "In the first place, because the re-
ligions you name have features which are quite as ob-
jectionable as anything which can be found in modern
Christianity, and I will not attempt to defend them
or to make any comparison with them and Christianity.
I am even willing to admit, that Christianity is su-
perior to any of them. But supposing this to be
true, the reason why Christian nations have advanced
morally beyond their competitors is because there has
'been more scepticism among the Christians. The
finest compliment that can be paid to the manhood of
the Christian nations is that they have at all times re-

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. «281

fused to be bound by their religion, and constantly vio-
lating it, they have advanced. The Mohammedan and
the oriental devotee is more devout. He accepts abso-
lutely the precepts of his religion and lives and dies
by it. Consequently it stupefies him and he has no
moral sense. The Christian, on the contrary, is a nat-
ural disbeliever. This is shown by the great diversity
of belief among Christians and the division into numer-
ous sects. Even in any given church you are con-
stantly dividing and disputing on points of doctrine,
and of the great mass of church-going people, the ma-
jority are not believers. Thus while there has been,
among what you call Christian nations, a formal rec-
ognition of the religion on the part of tin1 state, there
has been a constant repudiation of it on the part of
the populace. You have at no time ever had a rep-
resentative church membership in any nation, except
in Catholic nations, where the members of the church
in full sympathy with their creed constituted a ma-
jority of the citizens. The Catholic church is the only
one which has ever succeeded in establishing a com-
plete control of any nation, and wherever this has oc-
curred you have witnessed t»he death of intelligence
and the reign of superstition. So that we may safely
assert, without fear of successful contradiction by his-
torical facts, that the advancement of the so-called
Christian nations has been entirely due to their re-
jection of the creeds, and that civilization has ad-
vanced, not because of Christianity but in spite of it.
The fact that the organized church in every uatiou

282 LOUA-

and under every set of circumstances has bitterly
fought every scientific discovery and every important
invention, as well as every advance in social science,
is too well known to need repetition."

"I must confess that you have the best of me at
present," said Mr. McDonald, "and I am unable to
answer some of the arguments you have advanced. I
am unaccustomed to the consideration of religion from
this standpoint, and I see now that I have been look-
ing at the subject wholly from one side. But I am far
from being convinced, and I have this to say, at the
present moment. ' Suppose you are right, am I not just
as safe as you are?"

"You may be just as safe, with reference to the pos-
sibilities of a future state of existence in hell, but you
are suffering a great deal of unnecessary anxiety,
losing most of the pleasure of life through a false
philosophy, committing a great many mistakes, and
losing the development which comes from a correct
life."

"That may be true, and it is a loss to be seriously
considered, if it is true. But suppose I am right, what
will become of you?"

Loma regarded the visitor fixedly for a moment and
then inquired, "Mr. McDonald, is that line of question-
ing original with you?"

"No, sir," said Mr. McDonald, promptly; "but it is
the usual line of questioning with which we are wont
to silence the infidels we have to deal with."

"Then, without being impolite to you, I can answer,

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 28_

that it is the argument of a coward, who dares not
think. It is the privilege and the duty of every man
who lias the capacity to reason, to judge for himself
what is right, and then live up to it, with the courage
of his convictions. It is also the argument of the bigot,
and I will force you to relinquish it or abandon your
religion which you at present profess. The Catholic
church says that no one can be saved outside of her
pale. The Presbyterian church admits thai a Catholic
ran be saved. Now, by the same logic you are bound
to become a Catholic, for if you are right, he is reason-
ably safe, while if the Catholic church is right you are
hopelessly damned."

"I give it up," said Mr. McDonald, laughing. "You
are one of the best logicians I have ever met. But I
am not yet satisfied. I will think this over a couple
of days, and then come at you with some more ques-
tions."

CHAPTER XIX.

THE RELIGION OF LOVE.

"Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord, thy God,
with all thy heart aud with all thy soul and with all thy mind.
This is the first and great commandment. And the second is
like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these
two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."

A few days after the conversation narrated in the
last chapter, Mr. McDonald was again the guest of
Doctor Bell. He had expressed himself as anxious to
continue the discussion, and on this occasion he pre-
sented himself armed with questions and a full stock
of good humor. Myrtle and Mrs. Bell, to whom the
conversation was intensely interesting, listened with
great attention. Loma encouraged the guest to state
his questions with the utmost candor.

"While 3rou have impressed me very much with the
arguments you stated in our last conversation," said Mi'.
McDonald, "I have this objection to offer to your whole
philosophy. Suppose you succeed in destroying the
entire plan of salvation, which has comforted so many
aching hearts, what can you give us that is belter?
When you consider the misery that exists in the world,
the sorrow over the death of those -wo love the broken
hearts, the blasted ambitions, the poverty, the crime.

(285)

286 LOMA,

the degradation, and all of the misfortunes with which
mankind has to contend, you must admit that this
life is a failure. If there is nothing better than this
world, then life is not worth living. Now Christianity
holds out to the believer the hope of something better
after this life, and opens to his view a vista beyond
the grave, which is the ouly comfort and solace of the
aged, as well as the chief stimulus to an observance
of the laws of morality on the part of the young. If
you take away the comforting assurances of the Chris-
tian religion, you destroy nearly everything which
makes life endurable.'"

"Your statement is constructed upon a false theory
of conditions," answered Loma. "You have assumed
that the conditions which would obtain after the de-
struction of Christianity would be the same as now
exist under it, which is contrary to the nature of
things. As society is at present constructed, the laws
and customs which have been made by those who pro-
ceeded upon the Christian theory are the chief forces
which create conditions. The fact that life is a failure
under Christian conditions is the principal reason why
those conditions should be abolished and something
else tried, if only for the sake of experiment. You
admit, that after nearly two thousand years of trial,
Christianity has not given us a world that offers many
inducements to live in it. Now the fact that poverty,
crime, degradation' and misery abound under the dis-
pensation of Christianity, and that many tribes of
happy and contented savages have been completely

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 2H7

destroyed by the advent of Christianity into their lives,
is evidence that something is wrong, not with the
world, nor with humanity, per se, but with the condi-
tions which Christianity imposes and the education
which it gives. I have already shown yon, that the
plan of Christianity appeals, principally, to only two
of the faculties of the nature of man, viz., fear and the
love of gain. Now, because, after the rare has had
nineteen centuries of riotous dominance of these two
faculties, to the entire subordination of all the other
good impulses of man's nature, you have conditions
of degradation, misery and crime, you shrink from ex-
perimenting with any other form of education, because
you are dominated by the fear of unknown conse-
quences, and the love of gain prompts you to hold to
the miserable comfort you get out of promises that
have never in a single instance been verified. Your
most devout Christian is always the most conservative1
man in the community. He is cautious and acquisi-
tive, and the plan of salvation suits him. He can be
reasonably consistent in its practice, because he loves
gain, and he is always cautious and prudent, and he
is happy in keeping on what he considers the safe
side. He, therefore, orders his conduct reasonably
well, according to Christian standards, yet the ma-
jority of men are not so constituted, and as the plan
of Christianity does not appeal to them and does not
fit their lives, they have no other system of moral or
ethical culture, and they abandon themselves to wick-
edness. Tims, it appears, thai the real reason why

288 LOMA,

you have such unfortunate conditions in the world, is
really because that religion which is to satisfy the
nature of man has not yet been introduced. Jesus
attempted to introduce such a religion, and to a great
degree succeeded, and when the world accepts his
teachings as they were intended by him, and not en-
crusted with the dogmas of politicians and supersti-
tious priests, you will And, that while you have been
acting in his name, you have been constantly violating
his precepts, and you have accepted instead of the
pure philosophy he taught, a mass of ridiculous con-
tradictions which will not stand the test of reason.
These incongruities and absurdities of the system have
been exposed many times, but your people continue
to cling to them, because the true teachings of Jesus
are shrouded in doubt, and it is necessary that these
principles should be presented again to the human
race in the clear light of philosophy to enable them
to grasp the truth. The extraordinary character and
work of Jesus came very near demolishing the entire
fabric of supernaturalism in his day, but the ingenuity
of the priests, who saw their fabric tottering, saved
it for a time. Instead of combating the new philoso-
phy, after it had obtained a hold upon the people, they
pretended to adopt it, and deified Jesus, so that the idea
of the supernatural for a long time gained strength by
the sheer popularity of his character. After the admin-
istration of the new philosophy had passed into the
hands of the priests, it was an easy matter to falsify
the records by interpolations, and to inculcate new

A CITIZEN OF VENTS. 289

doctrines which Jesus never taught. This process has
been continued, with slight variations, down to the
present day, when the true teachings of Jesus are be-
ing better understood than they ever were before, and,
consequently, there is more scepticism against the re-
ceived interpretation of his philosophy. The Chris-
tianity of the churches must fall, and Jesus must be
restored to his original glory as the best of philoso-
phers; the tawdry investments of godship must be torn
from his figure, and it must be permitted to stand out
in all of its pristine beauty of manhood. Then the
absurd contradictions and untenable doctrines which
have been attributed to him must be disregarded, and
when a proper allowance has been made for the mis-
understandings of his auditors and scribes, his original
philosophy will be found to be substantially correct."

"I understood you to say, in our former conversa-
tion, that you derived your authority from the same
school of philosophy in which Jesus was educated.
Will you please explain?"'

"Jesus was educated in the school of philosophy of
which I am a pupil, and he represented a perfect type
of a civilization which has existed for many centuries
anterior to his extraordinary career on this earth.
You will excuse me, when I say that I am not at lib-
erty to give you the location of the cult to which he
belonged, for confidential reasons. But if you will ac-
cept my statements for what truth they contain, and
subject them to the tests of an impartial criticism, I
will recite to you the essential articles of a creed

19

290 LOMA.

which is substantially what he inculcated on this
earth, and in which I have been educated from my
youth, which may fully answer your question, when
you asked what could be given in exchange for the
accepted creed of Christianity which would meet the
demands of man's nature."

"I shall be delighted to listen."

"The essential doctrines of Jesus are all summed up
in his great proposition of supreme love to God and
equal love to man. This is the sum total of all phi-
losophy. But it is necessaiy to understand what he
meant by the proposition, and we must not accept the
interpretation which has been put upon his words by
designing and prejudiced expounders.

"The first and great commandment, 'Thou shalt love
the Lord, thy God,' does not mean that man shall bow
down to any of the idols which man has made, whether
they be of wood or stone or the savage ideals of
ignorant and savage men. 'The Lord, thy God,' is that
to which man owes his existence, his Creator, and the
ruler of all the forces which surround and govern him.
It is man's highest duty and privilege to question the
universe and find what this force of creation is, and
when he has reached the limit of his intelligence, to
accept the demonstrated conditions of nature, and to
love and obey them to the very best of his ability.
When the limits of man's intelligence taught him that
there was a power superior to his own in the flashing
lightning and the rolling thunder, he was justified
in falling down and worshiping it, but he was not jus-

A CITIZEN OP VENTS 291

titled iii allowing that conception of (rod to remain
fixed in his mind. Now, that man has progressed be-
yond the primitive savage state, and his intelligence
enables him to comprehend reason, benevolence and
justice, and he has solved many of the perplexing
problems of the material universe which surrounds
him, he is not justified in clinging to the savage con-
ception of Jehovah, Jove, or any other ideal of a de-
parted and darkened standard of intelligence. If he
clings to these and loves them, he is not loving the
Lord, his God. The highest duty of man is, to love
the highest and best conception of the creative power
of the universe which it is in his intelligence to com-
prehend. In the present degree of intelligence, w£ are
able to prove that the creative power which is ex-
pressed in Nature, and which is manifested in the phe-
nomena of growth and development, is the nearest and
best revelation of the character of the Creator, and
hence it is the imperative duty of man to abandon all
of the supernatural conceptions which he has out
grown, and to devote himself to the study of Nature.
The command, therefore, becomes translated into these
words, 'Thou shalt love Nature/ Loving Nature means
to study natural conditions and conform to them.
When man does this he finds that every element in
Nature is good. He finds that every condition of
growth and development is the very best that could
possibly exist. As soon as he conforms to the condi-
tions of his environment he becomes happy and con-
tented himself. Instead of cringing before a tyran-

292 LOMA,

nical and capricious deity, he stands erect in the pres-
ence of a universe which is altogether lovely, and in
which there is no flaw. He learns that whatever is,
is right. It is in accordance with the immutable laws
of Nature, and he learns to accept these conditions
and to conform to them. As long as he believes that
his conditions are governed by the caprices of a super-
natural deity to whom he can go with a petition, with
the hope of having natural laws suspended for his
selfish benefit, he will continually array himself against
Nature and be punished accordingly. As soon as he
learns that conception, birth, growth and death are
natural and inevitable conditions, he will accept them
as they are, and be satisfied with their consequences
and not attempt to change them. He will learn that
disease and pain are the natural results of disobedi-
ence of law, and he will develop his intelligence to the
degree that he will be able to avoid them. Instead of
neglecting every duty on this earth, that he may
enjoy a hypothetical existence in an unknown sphere,
he will enjoy his present life by conforming to his
present duties. We may therefore say, that the sum
total of man's highest duty is the rejection of the su-
pernatural, the study of the natural, — which, of course,
implies the study of himself, as well as the conditions
of his environment, — and the adoption of such habits
and customs as will promote his highest development."
"I must confess that this is a very extraordinary
exposition of the first and great commandment," ex-
claimed Mr. McDonald. "I have heard it preached

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 293

from many times, but I am bound to acknowledge,
that, while the duty of loving God has always been
impressed upon me very forcibly, and I have been de-
voutly conscious that I was in a manner obeying the
command, my conception of God has always been that
of the stern and powerful Jehovah, who brought tin-
Israelites out of the land of Egypt. There is much in
the character of this deity as depicted in the Old Tes-
tament, that I have not been able to reconcile with my
conscience, but I have always bowed to the doctrine
that His ways were dark and inscrutable, and that it
was not given to finite minds to understand the work-
ings of the Infinite,"

"And by so doing you darkened the windows of your
own intelligence, and adopted the standard of the sav-
age of four thousand years ago."

"I begin to believe that that is so, and in any event
I begin to be grateful to you for helping me to a bet-
ter conception of the nature of the Creator. 1 know
that, whatever He is, He must be in harmony with His
creation, and I am willing to accept your statement,
that the development of intelligence and the study of
natural conditions is the highest form of worship."

"If you are willing to make this advance, you must
begin by removing from your mind the conception of
the deity which has heretofore existed," said Loma,
"and yon nmst be honest with yourself. When you
think of G-od as the creator and designer of the uni-
verse, as its omnipotent, omniscient and eternal pre-
server, when von restore Jesus l<» his legitimate "lace

294 LOMA,

as tlie perfect type of man, and in that fact the revela-
tion of God, and in the Holy Spirit you recognize and
enthrone the spirit of universal Love, you will be
ready to comprehend the importance of the second
great commandment, which is like unto the first, 'Thou
shalt love thy neighbor as thyself,1 and you will in-
deed realize that on these two commandments hang
all the law and the prophets."

"I am willing to be instructed," said Mr. McDonald,
earnestly.

"Will you seriously claim that any form of Chris-
tianity expressed through any of the denominations
makes any respectable pretense toward living up to
the second great commandment ?"

"No, I will not attempt to make such a claim. But
I have always considered it impossible to do so, and
have attributed the failure of Christians to fulfill the
demand of this commandment to the inherent de-
pravity of our nature and the evil constitution of man
himself."

"By so doing, you impeach the judgment of Jesus,
and accuse him of laying upon man a command to per-
form an impossible act. Now I think I shall be able
to convince you that it is not impossible, and that,
on the contrary, this command implies only a most
reasonable and necessary duty, by which the happi-
ness of man can be greatly increased. I will formu-
late the implications of this command into a number
of propositions.

"First — Tliis command implies, that man should love

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 295

himself. If be does not love himself, then an equal
amount of love toward his neighbor will do that neigh-
bor little good. Universal love includes self-love, and
self-love, rightly directed, implies self-culture. There-
fore, the first implication of this commandment is,
that man should surround himself with the best pos-
sible conditions of growth, and that he should en-
deavor to obtain the highest possible education and
use of his faculties. As long as he cringes in fear be-
fore a God who is ruled by the most despicable pas-
sions, this is impossible; but when he realizes that
he himself is a part of the great and glorious cosmos,
whose beauty delights him by day, and whose visions
of rolling worlds inspire him by night, he may rise to
a proper conception of his own value, and think of
himself as a great and glorious personality, instead
of as a crawling worm of the dust. You will agree
with me that, instead of teaching this conception of
manhood, Christianity has always emphasized humil-
ity, and enforced it with the doctrine of the utter un-
worthiness of man. With his unworthiness and de-
pravity kept constantly before him, in a world which
his own intelligence has taught him was filled with
beauty and perfection, it is easy to see that all men
who have conscientiously accepted Christianity and
tried to live up to it have learned to hate themselves.
A normal mind must always hate that which is de-
praved and nnworthy. With this conception of him
self, it has been (he most natural thing on earth for
lii.iu to regard his fellow man .is unworthy and de-

296 LOMA,

praved, and hence he has made no rational effort to
improve either himself or his neighbor. The first con-
dition of obedience to this commandment is, that man
shall learn his own value, that he shall develop self-
respect, that he shall study himself in the light of
science, and realizing his nature and destiny, that he
shall love himself into the best possible conditions.

"Second — Man must realize the value of his neigh-
bor. Until he adopts the plan of character study, he
will never have a rational conception of human na-
ture, or the nature of the other objects which sur-
round him. Man does not understand the virtues, the
possibilities or the destiny of those who surround him.
He has yet to realize the value of human energy. He
must comprehend the measure of human pain and
human happiness. Until he does this, he will not
awaken to the necessity of avoiding the one and in-
creasing the other. The horrible mistake has been
ground into the understanding of man, that he should
not seek for happiness on this earth or in this life.
If he is barred from this himself, what possible in-
terest can he take in the happiness of others? When
this pernicious doctrine shall have been destroyed,
and man comprehends that he is placed in this world
to enjoy it, and that his highest duty is to crowd into
the brief period of his existence the greatest possi-
ble amount of happiness, and he learns that this is
best accomplished by ministering to the enjoyment of
others, then life will be for man what it is for every
other creature which has conformed to natural condi^

A CITIZEN OF VENUS.

297

tions, a long, sweet symphony of pleasurable experi-
ences.

"Third— It is necessary that man should learn who
his neighbor is. The common conception applies only
to those who have become intimately associated with
us in some way. But the true definition of the term
implies any being with whom we are brought into
contact. In this broad acceptation, man must in-
clude, in the term 'neighbor,' not only the man who is
near him but the animal also. It means that man
shall apply the rule of universal justice, and that lie
must not only be filled with good will toward every-
thing in nature, but he must study the rights and
duties of things, and respect the rights of all the in-
habitants of the planet, and perform his duty in all
directions. Here, again, the value of a system of cor-
rect character study is disclosed. When man learns
the character of those who surround him, he will
learn to respect their rights and privileges. Man loves
his liberty, and he desires the privilege of enjoying
himself. He must learn to concede the liberty of
every animal to enjoy life, and he must cease con-
sidering the animals as only created to serve
his selfish purposes. He must also learn that those
members of mankind who are not as fortunately en-
dowed with resources as himself are not to be made
his slaves, but that it is his highest privilege to bear
to them a share in every blessing which he himself
enjoys. There is not a Christian church in the land
which inculcates this doctrine. Your rich church

298 LOMA,

member continually aggregates to himself numberless
blessings which he does not share with poorer mem-
bers. He rolls in the luxury of his carriage, while
his poor brother walks, and he usually makes him
clean the stable into the bargain. He feeds on the
fat of the land at all times, and occasionally throws
a sop to his stifled conscience by sending a turkey to
a poor family, or by giving money to some charity,
where he will be sure to receive an equivalent in free
advertising. The charity which builds a hospital for
the poor, to gratify human vanity, while it makes no
effort to change the conditions which produce pov-
erty, is a stench in the nostrils of intelligent love.
Christianity builds palaces for its imaginary gods,
while it permits its neighbors to dwell in hovels. Your
churches have degenerated into mere palaces of in-
dulgence, where the majority of the men and women
who attend go to gratify their passions. Some have
a passion for display in dress, while others have a
passion for religious emotions, which are only another
form of self-indulgence. There is no moral difference
in the status of the person who goes to church to in-
dulge a passion, and that of one who goes to a brothel
for the same purpose. The absence of a good motive
in each case makes them equally sinful. Man must
realize that his neighbor is* every living thing with
which he comes in contact, and he must learn to apply
the law of universal kindness, justice and helpfulness.
"Fourth — Man must learn the doctrine of forgive-
ness. When he commits a wrong himself, and finds

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 299

that he is in the power of the one who has been
wronged, the first thing he does, is to sue for for-
giveness. Man never becomes weary of being for-
given, and he invariably forgives himself, whenever
he can find the slightest excuse. To love one's neigh-
bor as himself implies that man shall be as ready to
forgive his neighbor as to be forgiven. Jesus incul-
cated this doctrine when he announced the Golden
Rule, and also suggested that seventy times seven
would not be too often to forgive one offense. Even
supposing thai he set a limit at four hundred and
ninety times, the practical effect would be the same,
for it is incredible that any one would commit the
same offense that number of times against the same
person, unless he were insane. Herein we find the
essence of a true system of criminal jurisprudence.
The proper treatment of the criminal is not to follow
him with vindictive punishments, nor to frighten him
into the path of morality by the suggestion of dire
penalties for wrongdoing. Both of these methods fos-
ter crime instead of abolishing it. The true applica-
tion of this commandment is, for society to so regu-
late itself that those conditions which produce crim-
inals shall be abolished, and then if a brother offend,
forgive him, and if he repeats the offense forgive him
again. If he shows such a disposition to commit
crime' that he is really dangerous to society, he should
be regarded as insane, and he should be treated as
any other diseased member is treated, that is, as man
would wisli t<> be treated himself, when he is sick,

300 LOMA,

with justice and kindness, and when he recovers, he
should not be deprived of his liberty. Now the whole
policy of Christian civilization is opposed to this com-
mandment. Your code of criminal laws and punish-
ments is all constructed upon the principle that I have
condemned in your conception of God. You appeal
only to the sense of fear^ and you follow offenders
with the same vindictiveness that your God is sup-
posed to consign those to hell who offend him. You
consign your neighbors to living hells for life, and if
the poor wretches could be prevented from dying, your
Christian civilization would extend the punishment
indefinitely. It will not do for you to say that this
is outside of the jurisdiction of the church, for your
religion, having been on trial for these long centuries,
is responsible for the civilization it has produced, if
it has produced any, and if not, then it is responsible
for the fact that it has not produced a better form than
that which exists. But you cannot escape this indict-
ment, for the same policy is pursued in your churches
themselves. What forgiveness do you give to the
brother who, through pressure of poverty, commits a
defalcation? You expel him from the church, and
turn him over to the bloodhounds of the law. What
love do you show to the sister who commits an offense
against your marriage customs? You degrade her
below the level of the brute. You regard certain
animals as unfit for association with man on account
of their ferocity and violent disposition, but when you
learn the truth, you will find that there is no ferocity so

A CITIZEN OP VENUS. 301

great as that which Christian mail exhibits toward
his neighbor man, no violence so wicked as that which
Christian woman has at all ages displayed toward a
neighbor woman who has erred in the violation of a
social custom."

"Your arraignment of the system of religion which
we ha ve been taught to regard as the sum total of all
that is good, is severe, but I am not prepared to say
that it is not deserved," said Mr. McDonald. "You
have certainly given me new light on the meaning of
the two great commandments of Jesus. I am quite
willing to accept your views on these commandments,
but I still do not see why you should tear down the
conception we have of heaven. Surely there is no
harm in the belief in a future life, and the reunion of
those we love on a blissful shore, from which the pain-
ful conditions of this life have been removed. This is
a last, and as it now seems to me, a conclusive objec-
tion to your philosophy. Even if it were a delusion,
it seems to me that its effect could only be good. 1
am willing to adopt all you have said, in regard to the
duties of man to live naturally here, but I am un-
willing to surrender the hope of a blessed immortality
after death. I am anxious for you to discuss this
topic."

"It is always wrong and injurious to believe what
is untrue," replied Loma. "If you have any facts upon
which to base a belief in the existence of a soul, or in-
dividual intelligence, which continues to exist after
the death of the body, you are justified in believing

302 LOMA,

what the facts seem to indicate. But the belief in the
immortality of the soul is based, first, upon the bald
assumption that man possesses a soul, which has never
been shown to rest upon a single natural fact. The
greatest proof of this is found in the fact that man
has never seriously conceded that any animal pos-
sesses a soul, but he regards these creatures as simply
products of growth, which is true. In fact, the prin-
cipal distinction which 3-our greatest mental philoso-
phers have drawn between man and the animals is,
that man possesses a soul, while animals do not. Now
the science of character study discloses the fact, that
man is subject to exactly the same conditions of growth
as the animals; he comes into existence in the same
way, and he leaves it by the same universal exit. The
difference between man and other animals is simply
this: Man has a greater complexity of organization,
and a greater number of faculties united in him than
any other animal possesses. But he does not possess
a single faculty that is not found in some degree of
development in some animal. He makes a higher use
of some of them because he is able to form greater
combinations. The almost universal belief of man is,
that animals have no souls, but he is unwilling to con-
sider himself in the same way, because he has been
taught differently by his priests, and the belief has
flattered his egotism. Man loves to believe that he
is different from and more highly favored than any
other product of growth. When these facts have been
forcibly presented to some of your boldest and most

A CITIZEN of VENUS. 303

liberal religious philosophers, notably such men as
John Wesley, they have avoided the surrender of their
cherished belief in the soul of man, by boldly accept-
ing the conclusion, to which they are logically forced,
that animals have souls as well as men, and are cor-
respondingly immortal. This is the only course open
to the consistent believer, for there is no argument
which suggests the existence of a soul in man which
does not apply with equal force to animals. But man
does not generally consider this doctrine seriously with
regard to animals, for the reason that all the observed
facts of nature combine to teach him that it is false.

"The principal objection to the belief is, however,
that it causes man to be indifferent to his duties in
this life. He is constantly looking forward to the reali-
zation of his extravagant hopes for the good time in
the future, and he neglects the enjoyment of the pres-
ent. He is taught to have a contempt for the pleas-
ures of this world, by the magnificence of the furnish-
ings of his imaginary heaven, if he will conform to the
teachings of the priest, and believe the system of the-
ology which is furnished to him ready made. To
compel him to accept the system without question,
and to prevent him from reasoning upon its absurdi-
ties, he is instructed in early youth, that the church
is infallible, or what amounts to the same thing, that
the Bible from which it derives its authority is in-
spired beyond the possibility of a mistake. By this
ingenious system of fraud and arrogance, your intelli-
gence has been stupefied, until you are unable to rea-

304 LOMA,

son with the same degree of perspicuity upon religion
that you display upon other topics, where you are not
dominated by fear. Under such a system it is impos-
sible to develop moral character, for moral character
depends upon the ability to reason without fear, and
to decide upon a duty and its performance for moral
reasons. The indifference to the discharge of moral
duties is increased by the emphasis which is laid upon
belief as the only condition of salvation. While your
advanced theologians concede, that faith without
works is dead, yet it is not to be expected that the
mass of your ignorant and degraded classes will ever
be able to draw a distinction upon these fine points.
It is a common spectacle to see a criminal of the worst
class executed in the presence of a priest of some de-
nomination, and dying assured by him that he is saved
at the eleventh hour by his confession of belief. This is
logically correct, according to the plan of Christianity,
and it cannot be abandoned without surrendering the
whole theory of salvation. But the effect upon the
popular mind is, that it places a premium upon wrong-
doing, and comforts the criminal with the assurance
that he may persist in his wickedness as long as he
likes, and unless he dies too suddenly, he is always
sure of the chance of heaven, if he has time and op-
portunity to call in any minister of an orthodox church
and make a profession of penitence and belief. This
is a miserable substitute for that education, which the
state owes to every citizen, on the rights and duties
of persons and things, which will cause him to deal

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 305

with moral questions intelligently, according- to the
mathematical principles of equity. Your doctrine of
the immortality of the soul, and the jurisdiction of the
priest which has grown out of it, has crowded out of
your education every form of instruction upon moral
questions.

"A serious consequence of this belief is, that it
creates so much anxiety about the future in the mind
of the earnest and conscientious believer, that it con-
sumes his energies. He is so busy preparing for the
future life that he has no time to devote to the devel-
opment of himself or his family here. It is pitiable to
see what a destruction of happiness this doctrine has
caused in the lives of Christians. Lest his imaginary
God should be offended, and therefore his chances for
heaven decreased, the Christian has forfeited every
good which bountiful nature affords. The most fanat-
ical have gone to the extent of torturing themselves.
They have denied themselves food, raiment, sleep and
every form of comfort; have withdrawn from the so-
ciety of their fellows and lived in cells and caves; have
suffered disease and tortures worse than death, to
exalt the soul at the expense of the body. You may
say that this is fanaticism. It is only the complete
application of the logical consequences of the system.
Men who are not considered fanatics have fought every
form of human enjoyment for the same reason. The
church goes into a spasm of wrath whenever any new
form of pleasure appears. Tt has condemned dancing,

many denominations have fought instrumental music;
20

306 LOMA,

it anathematized every form of the drama, and ful-
minated its curse upon roller skating and, more lately,
upon the pleasures of the bicycle. Women have been
expelled from churches because they ornamented their
bodies with appropriate colors of ribbons and with
jewelry. There has never been a development in art,
science, or the study of morals itself, which has not
received the fiery opposition of those who were thor-
oughly indoctrinated with Christianity, and the force
of the opposition has always been in exact proportion
to the sincerity and zeal of the Christian representa-
tive."

"It seems to me," said Mr. McDonald, "that you hold
Christianity responsible for the eccentricities of Chris-
tians, which is unjust. Any system is likely to have
adherents who will go to the extent of fanaticism.
And you have not made clear to me yet, why immor-
tality may not be contemplated with satisfaction by
those who have lived according to their profession.
Suppose a man does live according to the principles of
eternal justice and righteousness, why should he not
have a prolongation of his life in eternity?"

"The eccentricities of the Christians which I have
described," said Loma, "were the legitimate outcome
of the system. If the principles of Christian theology
are true, these men did right. Their actions were ap-
proved in their day by the highest concensus of opin-
ion in their respective denominations. And these
actions were not modified until the prevailing spirit
of scepticism produced a force which compelled the

A CITIZRX OF VENUS. 307

Christian authorities to revise their judgment. And
when this revision took place, it was not according to
Christian standards of right and wrong-, but in ac-
cordance with the enlightened demands of science and
public sentiment. The answer to your last question
is as follows: When an organization has completed
the purpose for which it was created, it is a waste of
material to keep it in existence. Nature demands that
all bodies shall live, die and decompose into original
elements. In the sense that all matter is indestructi-
ble, so everything is immortal. But in the constant
mutations of matter organizations change. As the
intelligence of man changes with the changes in his
organization, so his individuality must be lost with
the loss of the individuality of his organization. This
is in accordance with the facts which Nature lays be-
fore us, and there is nothing which seems to indicate
the contrary. The acceptance of this doctrine relieves
all anxiety as to the future, which is the bane of man's
existence. With the fading of his vision of a palace
in an imaginary heaven, which he would not know
how to use and enjoy if he had, there is also an ex-
tinction of the nightmare of a dungeon in hell. Ac-
cepting the command of Nature to live and enjoy her
bounties, he thrills with the pleasure of the present,
and when he has finished the use of the faculties with
which he has been endowed, he surrenders them back
to her keeping, and slumbers peacefully in the broad
receptivity of the universe, of which his substance was
always, and ever will be, a component part."

308 LOMA,

"The true doctrine of immortality is this," continued
Loma, after a pause : "The amount or measure of mag-
netism which a person is capable of generating and
expressing through the machinery of his body, consti-
tutes his intelligence or mind, and the character of that
mind will be determined by the form which the body
takes. In other words, the amount of mind of any given
individual is determined by his state of health, quality,
temperament and magnitude. The kind of mind is
determined by the form of his body and head, and this
is proved by Phrenology to be as true of animals as of
man. The character of the mind is constantly chan-
ging, as the form of the body changes, by growth and
the influences brought to bear upon it. The volume
of mind varies constantly with conditions of health
or disease, depletion, exhaustion, recuperation, etc. If
you wish to use the terms 'soul' and 'spirit,' the fol-
lowing are the only definitions that would accord with
reason, human experience and observed facts:

"The 'soul' of man may be properly considered as the
capacity he possesses to generate mental power. Con-
sidered as a measure and not as an entity, the word
'soul' is useful.

"The 'spirit' of man is his influence derived from the
exhibition of his mentality. In the highest and best
sense this 'spirit' never dies, but preserves its individ-
uality and progresses in an ever-widening circle. The
spirit of Moses as a lawgiver and political leader is
more powerful to-day than when he gave the Deca-
logue to the children of Israel. The Christ spirit is

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 309

present whenever any good deed is performed in obedi-
ence to his influence, and this is probably the most
powerful spirit in existence to-day. The spirit of every
man, animal, tree, flower or crystal is in this sense
forever immortal. But it survives as an influence and
not as a personality.

"Now, it is true that every good influence continues
indefinitely as well as every evil one. Good is posi-
tive, evil is negative, and all of these influences re-
turn at last to the center of Creative Energy, which
Ave recognize as God. In figurative language God is
said to 'put on His right hand' all good things and on
'His left hand' everything that is evil. This is only an-
other way of saying that He is the great ungenerated
source of all goodness, and the ultimate end of all
goodness also, and that, as all good impulses originally
proceed from Him, to Him also will they ultimately re-
turn. All evil He 'puts on His left hand ;' that is to say,
renders it negative. The spirit of Jesus Christ, set in
motion by him during the performance of his glorious
mission on this earth, not only encompassed this globe
but our planet also, and made itself felt throughout
the universe. How it has affected other spheres it
does not concern you to know, even if I had the power
to tell you, which I do not claim. But this we know
as a matter of philosophy, that any disturbance in any
part of the universe, for good or evil, affects the whole.
It is a grandly inspiring thought that any good action
performed by the humblest individual swells the vol-
ume of goodness throughoul the universe, and makes
conditions upon the most distant star better because

310 LOMA,

it lias been performed. Because Jesus was perfect in
his goodness, it follows that his whole spirit has been
placed at the right hand of God, because it was wholly
and completely good. May we so conduct our high
and holy mission that the offspring of our beloved
Myrtle may reach an equally high destiny!"

"Oh, is it possible!" exclaimed Myrtle, with rapture.

"Certainly," -replied Loma. "Human perfection has
been attained once and it can be attained again. Vol-
umes have been written and great energies have been
expended in trying to induce men and women to be
like Jesus, when from their faulty organization it was
manifestly impossible. But if the same effort had been
put forth to regenerate the parents before the unre-
generate sinners were born, and they had been in-
structed in the true philosophy of complete generation
so as to produce men and women capable of compre-
hending and expressing goodness, better results would
have been reached. The only way that men and
women can be brought to truly resemble Jesus, is to
conceive them in pure love, as he was conceived, and
educate them, as he was educated, from the beginning
of life in the womb of the mother, in all goodness. If
the true facts in relation to the conception and edu-
cation of Jesus had been taught to the world, instead
of the absurd and pernicious mystery with which
priestcraft has veiled them, there would be more men
and women in the world to-day Christ-like in character,
beautiful in appearance, worthy to be placed at the
right hand of God with the 'spirits of just men made
perfect.' "

CHAPTER XX.

THE REIGN OF JUSTICE.

"Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should
do to you, do ye even so to them, for this is the law and the
prophets."

"Your exposition of the conditions of civilization
upon the planet of Venus has been exceedingly inter-
esting- to me in all of its phases,'' said Doctor Bell to
Loma at the next session; "but there are still some
economic matters of great value upon which I am
anxious to be enlightened. For instance, I have un-
derstood you to say, that cremation is the usual method
of disposing of the dead. Is this the universal prac-
tice?"

"It is not only the universal practice in the disposal
of the dead, but also of all other decomposing and
offensive accumulations," said Loma. "The universal
principle is recognized, that after a body has served
its purpose, and it has passed from the state of life
to that of death, the best way to dispose of it is
to reduce it to its original elements as quickly as pos-
sible. Fire is the greatest and most effective purifier
of all things, and it is a mistaken and morbid love
which would ding to the lifeless body after the ani-
mating and magnetic condition has departed. We do

(311)

312 LOMA,

not recognize the desirability of perpetuating the or-
ganization after Nature has begun the work of final
disintegration. Nearly all of our citizens live to ad-
vanced ages, and after their social standing has been
registered in the national gazettes, they are sure of
a just recognition of whatever services they have ren-
dered to humanity after they have ceased to exist,
hence there is no occasion for expensive monuments.
When a citizen dies, his lovers and associates assemble
and witness his cremation, and listen to a recital of
his history by competent orators. Music of the most
cheerful character is rendered, and there is no grief,
no weeping or wailing or any of the uncanny perform-
ances which form so much of the stock in trade of your
undertakers and those who conduct religious services
on this planet. As the citizen has lived during his
life for the benefit of those who surround him, so in
death every precaution is taken to avoid contaminating
and unhealthy influences. The burial of bodies pol-
lutes the ground and causes a long train of diseases
and calamities, of which your citizens are ignorant,
while they constantly suffer from them. Your ceme-
teries are usually placed on elevated grounds, so that
the monuments may make a display, and the decom-
posing bodies pollute the water for miles in all direc-
tions. You drain your cities into your streams, and
after a river has flowed through one such city as Chicago
it becomes a river of death. Even in the country
where healthier conditions should prevail, and where
there is plenty of room, this universal blunder con-

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 313

tinues. You discharge your excreta and refuse into
pits dug in the ground, and in a majority of cases
these are so near to the dwellings and wells that
the poison is continually reabsorbed by living bodies.
Now, in Venus we have a much better system. All
of our garbage is collected and burned, the product
converted into fertilizing material and returned to the
earth in purity, and every stream on the planet flows
with living water, so pure that under all circumstances
it is acceptable for drinking purposes without filter-
ing. The perfect system with which the food supply
is administered prevents waste, and as we use only
fruits and vegetables for food, and we have only such
domestic animals as are companionable, we have no
great amount of garbage to dispose of. The principal
burden in your garbage problem arises from the large
herds of domestic animals that are kept in unnatural
confinement, in close proximity to man, and the use
you make of animal food, which causes a great per-
centage of the diseases with which you are afflicted.'"

"What became of the herds of domestic animals
which existed on Venus, after your present system
was inaugurated and you found that you had no fur-
ther use for them? Were they slaughtered?" asked
Myrtle.

"By no means," replied Loma. "The law of uni-
versal justice forbade any such brutality. While they
remained in confinement the reproduction of domestic
animals was discontinued, but as soon as the new so-
ciety decided upon what portions of the globe were

314 LOMA,

best suited to human habitation, the remaining terri-
tory was abandoned, and as soon as it became evident
that certain animals had ceased to be useful to man,
and that man was not essential to their existence, they
were transported to those portions of the globe which
were not required for man's use, and set at liberty.
The consequence was, that many species which had
served their usefulness became extinct, while others,
according to the survival of the fittest, occupied the
territory, where they live in happiness and develop-
ment, according to their standing in the scale of crea-
tion."

"Another question in which I am greatly inter-
ested," said the doctor, "is this — What uses do you
make of gold and silver and diamonds? From what
you have already said, I infer that you use no cur-
rency or money of any kind, and as you do not use
clothing, I do not see what use you would have for
these articles as ornaments."

"We have no use for money," said Loma, "hence we
are never troubled with such economic problems as
you have on the questions of money and values. It
is the duty of the state to produce all the commodities
needed b}^ its citizens, and the citizen having per-
formed his duty, is entitled to have all of his legitimate
desires satisfied. He has no desires that are not legit-
imate, for he is too well educated to desire anything
that is not according to the law of mathematical
equity. We use gold and silver as we use all other
metals, in manufacturing desirable articles, but there
is no special value set upon these metals. In fact,

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 315

aluminum, which is much more common, but which
is subject to a great many more uses, is much more
esteemed. Diamonds are worn as ornaments, in rings
and necklaces, on formal occasions. They are all the
property of the state, and at the death of a citizen
all of his ornaments revert to the state, to be again
disposed, where worthy services have been performed.
Thus every woman who becomes pregnant is invested
with a diamond ring at the middle day of her pregnancy,
and at parturition she is presented with a diamond
necklace, which at first bears a large single stone.
For every citizen she bears for the state, a diamond
is added to her necklace, and so it is easy to tell by
the jewels worn by a woman how many jewels she
has given to the state in the form of good citizens.
The same decorations are worn by fathers, and other
precious stones are used to denote other services. I
did not wear my decorations to the earth, for the
reason that in the transit they would have been de-
stroyed. Only those bodies capable of developing a
high degree of magnetism can pass from one planet to
another."

"You have said a great deal about rewards that are
given to your citizens for good conduct, both in this
matter of decorations and in the system of credit marks
in social standing," said Myrtle, "and the question of
punishment naturally suggests itself. How do you
correct delinquents, and what method do you pursue
in establishing guilt?"1

"The system of complete education practically elim-
inates delinquency, and all lapses are treated as mis-

316 LOMA,

takes. There is no occasion for punishment, for the
mortification of a bad performance is, in itself, suffi-
cient to the educated person. Take your own case,
for instance. We do not have to threaten you with
punishment, to cause you to speak your language cor-
rectly. I have known you many weeks, and you have
not, as yet, been guilty of a single blunder in this de-
partment of conduct. You speak correctly because
you have been educated to do so, and it has become
habitual. If you should make a mistake, you would
be mortified, and all that would be necessary to cause
you to correct it would be to call your attention to it.
The credit marks and ornaments we use are not given
as rewards, but simply as evidences of achievement,
to suggest to the young the desirability of reaching
a similarly high grade. Complete education, as prac-
ticed on Venus, completely destroys the possibility of
crime, and as the principal incentives to crime which
exist here are removed, there is no unnatural pressure
upon our citizens to cause the various forms of in-
sanity which produce all the crimes with which you
are afflicted."

"Is crime always the result of insanity?1' asked Mrs.
Bell.

"Always,'' replied Loma. "There are only two con-
ditions which can result in a criminal action, viz.,
idiocy and mania. Idiocy is of two kinds, congenital,
where there is some portion of the brain which is im-
perfectly formed, and acquired, where there is origi-
nally a complete brain, but where some parts are per-

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 317

milted to become paralyzed through disuse. Now, the
science of Phrenology, even in the crude form in which
it is practiced on this planet, discloses the fact that
the great majority of your citizens come into exist-
ence partially idiotic. They have, in most cases, suffi-
cient brain to learn all of the subjects which are
taught in your schools, but as these subjects are very
limited in scope, and successive generations are edu-
cated in the same general channel, where considera-
ble culture is given to a few faculties, and no culture
whatever to others, the deficiencies are not usually
noticed, and you have a great many citizens who are
considered well educated, and mentally responsible,
who are nevertheless incapable of correct judgment
and moral action. A man may read in all languages,
be capable of excellent mechanical skill, be a skillful
musician, and show great shrewdness in business, and
still be morally idiotic, because he has no development
in certain other portions of his brain, which enable
him when properly educated, to reason correctly on
the rights and duties of persons. It is even possible,
that, when questioned, he might be able to answer
correctly on the abstract moral question involved,
when he is free from excitement, and yet, when he
is confronted with a temptation, he yields to an irre-
sistible impulse, because the faculties which should
restrain him from the commission of a wrong act have
never been educated, and are therefore powerless to
act The unfortunate offender is arraigned before a
court and jury who know nothing of these psycholog-

318 LOMA,

ical problems or principles; the commission of the
offense is fairly proved, bnt the psychological condi-
tion of the accused is never considered, unless he pre-
sents such evidences of insanity as amount to com-
plete stupidity or actual mania. Even in the first
case, he is usually condemned and hustled off to a
stupid punishment, because such unfortunates are, as
a general thing, without money or friends. In cases
of mania, your courts are inclined to administer justice,
but the people frequently defeat justice by clamor-
ing for condign punishment, because they are inflamed
with the spirit of revenge, which is such a conspic-
uous feature of your religious education. Complete
congenital idiocy and mania are recognized in your
courts, but the large class of unfortunates who are
rendered incapable of correct action by congenital de-
formity and insufficient education will continue to be
afflicted with inhuman punishments until your people
adopt the code of Gallheim, as it will be proclaimed
by Myrtle's offspring, and learn to study character
correctly and apply the law of mathematical equity
in all classes of actions. Then they will learn the
value of human culture and apply it in its complete
form, and there will be no congenital idiocy or de-
formity, and the adoption of correct habits of living
will prevent mania, as well as all other forms of dis-
ease. Then the law of love will be recognized, and
revenge will cease to be the ruling motive in the en-
actment and enforcement of law."

"Then it is a true principle, that all corrective meas-

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 3]g

ures should be remedial and reformatory and never
vindictive," said Doctor Bell.

"That is strictly tare. It is a monstrous injustice
for the state to punish a citizen, when it has denied
to that citizen the conditions which make it possible
for him to have a complete organization and a com-
plete education. A government which cannot protect
its citizens in growth and development, and which
permits some of the members of society to absorb all
of its benefits to the impoverishment of the majority
is worse than no government at all. What, then! shall
we say of a government which derives a large part
of its revenues from fostering and putting in motion
forces which destroy its citizens by wholesale? Your
government is the principal partner in every distillery
brewery and saloon in the country, as well as every
manufactory of tobacco, opium and every other product
which ministers to the vices of your citizens and de-
stroys virtue. Your government, for a pecuniary con-
sideration in the form of a. tax, grants to an army of
unscrupulous persons the right to manufacture and
sell products which will destroy the health and moral
Character of every citizen who is brought under
the* influence. By this system of taxation and the
monopoly which is thereby created, the destruction of
humanity has become the most profitable business in
the catalogue of your industries. It is the lasting
disgrace of your civilization that the saloon is more
Profitable than the provision house, and that a man can
become rich more rapidly by manufacturing criminals

320 LOMA,

than by any other industry known to your commerce.
The same system has been extended indirectly to the
brothel, and among the most profitable industries pur-
sued by your citizens is that of recruiting and selling
into a form of slavery worse than death, thousands
of young girls annually to supply the ranks of prosti-
tution. It is estimated that two hundred and forty
thousand young girls are now being annually sacri-
ficed in the United States. With the saloon on the
corner, the brothel in the rear, the tobacco stand on
the sidewalk and the courthouse and jail across the
street, all of them managed in partnership by your
government, the wonder is, that any citizen can walk
the street without falling into crime, and experiencing
some form of the vicious penalties which disgrace your
statute books."

"Our reformers recognize the truthfulness of your
observations," said Mrs. Bell, "and many experiments
have been tried to reduce the evil of intemperance,
but so far these efforts have not been successful. I
should like very much to have your views on the sub-
jects of prohibition, license, moral suasion and such
other remedies as we have tried, and also what you
consider to be the correct remedy for the evil. We
are generally agreed that until the curse of intemper-
ance is banished, we cannot have any substantial or
lasting reform in any direction.''

"Prohibition is wrong in principle, whether it be
directed against intemperance or any other crime. It
is folly to prohibit any wrong action, as long as the

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 321

state is engaged in producing conditions which impel
its citizens to the commission of the acts prohibited.
Hut in this respect, your state follows the example
of your God, who is represented as prohibiting cer-
tain actions, and then creating men and women in
such a condition as insures the commission of the pro-
hibited actions. This is your conception of justice,
and until you learn better, both in religion and state-
craft, you will continue to suffer the consequences of
injustice. You cannot legislate away the inherited or
acquired propensities of the citizen. The only way
in which these propensities can be changed, is by edu-
cation, and this must be commenced in the youth of
the citizen. Now, your government stands in the
position of a national educator in vice. It licenses
the saloon, the tobacco stand, and practically licenses
the brothel, and the youth of your land are instructed,
by the very presence of the sumptuous palaces of sin,
which are constantly frequented by those who hold
high places among you, that it is elegant, respectable
and correct to patronize them. The feeble efforts
which are put forth by your churches are, as a rule,
only advertisements of these evils by attracting atten-
tion to them. While a very small contingent of your
youth is kept from temptation by good inlluences, the
majority is constantly drawn into the meshes of evil,
and if it were not for the inherent goodness of your
young manhood and womanhood, the results would be
frightfully worse. It is not the result of your la ws, your

system of morals or your religions training that your
21

322 LOMA,

citizens are not wholly given over to indulgence, for
all of these are hopelessly inefficient and are working
on a wrong principle. It is the natural good sense
of a large number of your young people which keeps
them out of evil practices, and their natural suscepti-
bility to education causes them to observe and avoid
evil. But as long as men are paid princely salaries in
breweries to drug the liquor, so as to enslave the appe-
tites of the consumer, and as long as men are gov-
erned by the acquisitive instinct in its uneducated
form, which prompts them to trade in human flesh
and blood for pecuniary gain, it is useless to attempt
to stem the tide of evil by prohibitory measures. The
only form of prohibition which can be effective is that
which conies to the individual citizen by the action of
an enlightened conscience. Before you can have an
enlightened public conscience, there must be a gen-
eral and complete education of your citizens. As long
as the education of your citizens on moral questions is
left to the feeble and ridiculous methods of your
churches, you will have no development of the sense of
justice."

"What immediate policy would you recommend to
our reformers as the best to pursue in relation to the
liquor traffic?" inquired Mrs. Bell.

"Instead of advocating prohibition, or merely con-
fining your efforts to moral suasion, which latter
policy is well enough as an educating force as far as
it goes, the temperance advocates should make a vig-
orous war on the partnership of the government in

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 323

the saloons. License is simply the com pounding of
the crime. High license makes the manufacture and
sale of liquor profitable, by creating a monopoly, and
this results in the making of tippling a luxury, which
it is fashionable and popular to cultivate. It is en-
tirely to this fact that the practice of treating owes
its popularity. Now, if the government would with-
draw its protection, and the manufacture and sale of
liquor were free to every citizen, large quantities of
pure and unadulterated stimulants would be produced
and for a while the consumption would be greater
among those upon whom the habit is firmly fixed, but
the consequences would not be as serious as they are
now, for the liquor would not be poisoned. The univer-
sal cheapening of the product, and the freedom with
which it could be obtained, would destroy the saloon,
and the practice of treating would disappear. When it
became common, it would cease to be fashionable, and
then your efforts in the line of moral suasion and edu-
cation would become effective. It would take one gen
■e ration to reduce the consumption, another to develop
the educational influences required, and the third gen-
eration would be entirely free from the vice, and
would have concurrently advanced to the same high
plane along other lines, in which the same rational
policy had been pursued. That was the history of
the movement upon our planet, after the code of Gall-
heim began to be generally adopted by the barbarians.
The followers of that distinguished philosopher, how
ever, reached a much more immediate result, by the

324 LOMA,

formation of their society, in which the laws of cor-
rect living were studied and applied, and as soon as
they were established they were at once adopted and
practiced by the entire membership. It was easy for
them to adopt reforms, because they had ceased to
struggle for riches, and the society guaranteed to every
member everything that he needed. The trouble with
reforms on this planet is, that your citizens are so
wholly given to the consideration of money getting,
that you have sold your consciences, your self-respect
and your entire moral character to the forces of evil.
The destruction of the saloon and similar institutions
means that your so-called respectable citizens will have
to pay higher taxes, temporarily. I say temporarily,
for it would only be a short time before the reduction
in crime and misery would more than compensate for
the increase in the tax rate. But your citizens are not
interested in the suppression of crime and misery as
much as they are in the accumulation of wealth. If a
citizen finds that his taxes are being increased to a
small degree, he is seized with a spasm, and the admin-
istration which increases the comfort of the great mass
of citizens at the expense of the taxpayer is doomed.
It is a melancholy coniinentary on your civilization,
that any form of vice can flourish if it is able to pay
a heavy tax, and your cities vie with each other in
offering premiums to demoralizing enterprises and
brutal exhibitions, whenever it can be shown that they
will bring with them a large crowd of persons, no mat-
ter how vicious, who will spend money. Until your cit-

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 325

izens learn the law of mathematical equity, and become
convinced that every evil act brings its own punish-
ment, and that the law of ethics cannot be violated
without disaster, you will have these conditions. The
state must learn that it cannot suppress crime until it
ceases to be criminal itself in its policy."

"I should infer from the principles that you have an
nounced in this lesson, that capital punishment, im-
prisonment for life, and, in fact, every punishment
which is inflicted in the spirit of retribution, is radi-
cally wrong," said Myrtle.

"That is exactly the impression that I wish to con-
vey," said Loma. "These punishments are all in the
nature of prohibitory measures, directed against con-
ditions that cannot be successfully prohibited until
society ceases to foster them. The nature of the pun-
ishment is a natural outgrowth of the doctrine of eter-
nal and unmerciful cruelty which is preached as one
of the attributes of the God which your people are in-
structed to worship. The ideas of retribution, revenge
and atonement must be eliminated from the public
mind, before you can form an adequate idea of justice.
I will analyze some of your most brutal expressions of
retributive punishment and see in what they originate,
and what consequences are inevitable.

"The worst form of retributive punishment which
has become common in this country, is the burning and
torturing of negroes in the South for the crime of rape.
It has occurred so frequently of late, that even your
sluggish public conscience is becoming awakened to

326 LOMA,

the enormity of the crime, by the side of which the
original crime of the rapist pales into insignificance.
The negro who commits the rape is usually a low bru-
talized type, frequently crazed by liquor which is sold
to him by the community without protest, and his con-
dition is the natural outgrowth of the brutalizing and
degrading institution of slavery, which was so long
practiced in this country. The community in which he
resides has given him little chance for improvement.
He is not encouraged to rise above the condition of the
slave by education or social intercourse. The commu-
nity permits him to be surrounded by every form of
education in vice, and discourages his elevation, while
it grants him the opportunity to commit the crime. In
this condition he commits the crime of rape, perhaps
ander circumstances of great atrocity, which are in
themselves the best evidences of his insanity, and thisi
insanity is the direct result of his environment, for
which the community is responsible. If the law of
justice were strictly applied, the community would be
found responsible for the rape and not the negro. How-
ever, he is caught by an infuriated mob, and we will
admit that the proof of his commission of the act is
clear. The sentiment of the community is in favor of
retributive punishment. They worship a God who
deals largely in that commodity. He is paraded around
the public square, before assembled thousands. Men,
women and children witness the spectacle, and he is
tortured and burned under the mistaken impression
that the example will deter others from the commis-

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 327

sion of similar offenses. But it produces an entirely
opposite effect. While it may deter a few timid
negroes from the commission of crimes of a similar
nature, for a short period of time, immediately follow-
ing the outrage, the subsequent consequences are dis-
astrous. An entire community has been educated in
brutality. Pregnant women by the score have been
impressed with horrible conditions. A monstrous ob-
ject lesson in injustice has been given to the young
who witnessed the spectacle. The instincts of kind-
ness, forbearance, friendship and love have been
blunted in the organizations of hundreds, if not thou-
sands of citizens, who have, on the other hand, been
stimulated to deeds of violence, hatred, vindictiveness
and cruelty. Veneration' for law and established forms
of judicial procedure is destroyed and a premium set
upon lawlessness The result is a long train of calam-
ities to the community, which is never fully appreci-
ated, for the full effect of the reaction is not felt for
years, and the series of crimes and evils that result
are not attributed to the true cause. Let me illustrate
with a single example. A pregnant woman witnesses
such an outrage and rejoices in the cruelty which is
inflicted on what she considers a human monster. She
impresses her offspring with the spirit of vindictive-
ness. In childhood he manifests it by burning and tor-
turing animals and playmates. He has an ungovern-
able and disagreeable temper which embitters his whole
life. He reaches manhood and becomes a seducer of
women and a violent, quarrelsome man. His whole

328 LOMA,

career is marked by violence and crime, and his history
is infinitely worse than that of the unfortunate and
brutalized negro whose execution and torture is re-
sponsible for his own unhappy condition. He leaves
a progeny of five daughters, who are, like himself, vio-
lent, unchaste and ungovernable, and who lead crim-
inal lives and become the mothers of criminals. He
finally terminates his career on the gallows, after the
commission of some horrible atrocity which is worse
than that of which the negro was guilty. Now, if you
will consider, that this is only one of the results which
may flow from such an outrage, and consider further
that instead of one witness, there are usually not less
than ten or twenty thousand, all of whom are exposed
to consequences as awful as those I have described, it
is possible to form a remote conception of the fearful
injustice and inexpediency of retributive punishment."

"What is the proper procedure in such a case?" said
Doctor Bell.

"Kindness and restraint. The state must recognize
that whenever a crime is committed, the state and not
the individual is responsible. There has been a defect,
either in the generation or the education of the crim-
inal. If the defect can be remedied, he is entitled to a
cure, and if not, he must be gently and kindly re-
strained from the commission of future offenses. 'It
is a true principle that the exhibition of love and for-
bearance generates goodness, exactly as the exhibition
of hatred and violence generates evil. The state is the
worst criminal in society, and until it is reformed there

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 329

is little hope tor the citizen. The practice of capital
punishment, when performed legally, is open to all the
objections that I have stated as applying to the prac-
tice of burning and torture, except as it is modified in
the brutality of the exhibition. Public hangings are
nearly as bad as public burnings. Private executions
are only less evil, as they are witnessed by a smaller
audience. Electrocution is merely a modification of
the same evil. Imprisonment for life is a monstrous
exhibition of cruelty and injustice, the legitimate off-
spring of the detestable doctrine of eternal imprison-
ment in hell. Imprisonment for long terms of years
for trivial offenses against property or person is a con-
stant lesson in injustice, and it is a wonder that the
moral sense of your citizens is not wholly obliterated
by the constant appeal that is made to fear, while no
appeal is made or education given to the sense of jus-
tice."

CHAPTER XXI.

FOUR GREAT MISTAKES CORRECTED.

"It is inconceivable that inanimate brute matter should,
without the mediation of something else which is not mate-
rial, operate upon and affect other matter, without mutual
contact, as it must do if gravitation, in the sense of Epicurus,
be essential and inherent in it. And this is the reason why I de-
sire you would not ascribe innate gravity to me. That grav-
ity should be innate, inherent and essential in matter, so that
one body may act upon another at a distance, through a
vacuum, without the mediation of anything else by and
through which their action may be conveyed from one to an-
other, is to me so great an absurdity that I believe no man
who has in philosophical matters a competent faculty of think-
ing can ever fall into it. Gravity must be caused by an agent
acting according to certain laws; but, whether this agent be
material or immaterial, I have left to the consideration of my
readers." — Newton.

At various times during his tuition of Myrtle, Lonia
had unfolded to her the mysteries of astronomy, in
which he was an expert. His great abilities as a
teacher, and the interest with which his delightful
personality invested every subject upon which he con-
versed, made the contemplation of the heavens under
his guidance a pleasure more than a task, and filled
the mind of Myrtle with sublime raptures. He did not
burden her with mathematical problems, but rather
directed her intelligence to the comprehension of flic
true theory of the creation of the universe, and the

(331)

332 LOMA,

contemplation of its simplicity and grandeur. In this
way her appreciation of the beautiful and the sublime
was increased, and her worship of the good, the true
and the beautiful in Nature impressed her offspring
with those faculties which would enable him to compre-
hend the same subjects and give him power to speak
and write in the loftiest strains. In the course of his
instruction, Loma had imparted to her all of the
knowledge of the sublime philosophy of the genesis
of worlds, the nature of space and matter and their
sexual affinities, as expressed in electricity and mag-
netism, together with the causes of heat and light,
which he had so graphically explained to Doctor Bell
on the second day of his sojourn on the earth. Myrtle
was an apt pupil, and while she received each startling
disclosure with girlish delight and wonder, her prac-
tical intellect absorbed the information, and she soon
became able to converse on these grand topics with
brilliancy and effect.

Doctor Bell was no less enthusiastic than Myrtle in
this part of Loma's instructions. Shortly after the ar-
rival of Loma upon the earth he had caused a small
observatory to be constructed upon the roof of his resi-
dence and had equipped it with all the necessary instru-
ments for elementary studies, such as Loma designed
to impart. A fine six-inch equatorial telescope had
been purchased and mounted in this observatory, and
many delightful evenings were spent under Loma's di-
rection in the practical observation of the wonders of
the heavens. This telescope, as may be supposed, was

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 333

most frequently turned upon Venus, which planet
Myrtle, as well as the rest of the family, had invested
with more than affectionate interest.

Doctor Bell had also set apart one of the commodious
rooms of his residence as a physical laboratory and had
equipped it with all the apparatus necessary for the
practical study of physics and chemistry. He found
the tutorship of Loma invaluable to himself in his pro-
fessional work, and he became as enthusiastic in the
study of the advanced problems of these sciences as
Myrtle was in the more elementary work. Loma had
explained that the elementary studies pursued by Myr-
tle at this time would serve the purpose of impressing
her offspring with the necessary capacity for the com-
prehension of the subjects, while the advanced studies
pursued by Doctor Bell would fit him to become the
instructor of the coming prodigy when he arrived at
the proper age to pursue these branches.

Loma illustrated his instructions wdth brilliant ex-
periments which fascinated his pupils and kept them
in a constant state of wonder and admiration. His
perfect powTers of analysis and description, added to his
wonderful stock of knowledge, which represented the
advanced stage of development upon Venus, no less
than his loving and genial companionship, made the
experience of his pupils a never-failing source of enter-
tainment, instruction and happiness.

It happened that while Myrtle was deeply engaged in
these studies Doctor Bell received a visit from one
of his intimate friends, a former classmate in the

334 LOMA.

University of Michigan, and at present one of the
expert astronomers of the Washburn Observatory at
Madison, Wisconsin, connected with the University of
that state. This gentleman, Professor George Hamil-
ton, became at once greatly interested in Loma, whom
he immediately recognized as a person of superior
attainments, and as he remained several days as the
guest of Doctor Bell, the acquaintance soon ripened
into warm friendship. Toward Myrtle the professor
was genial and polite, but like many scientific students,
he had allowed his scientific proclivities to develop
at the expense of his social faculties, and he was not
inclined to spend a great deal of time in the society
of ladies if he could avoid it. He found, however, that
the best time to get Loma to expound his remarkable
philosophy was when the ladies were present, and he
submitted to the conditions with a good grace. But
one day at dinner, he laughingly remarked :

"I see that Doctor Loma is attracted to the society
of you ladies, as inevitably as matter is attracted to
matter."

"I fear if such were the case that I should be de-
prived of the delights of their association," said Loma,
"for the principle you have used as a comparison is in-
correct."

"Do you mean that matter does not attract matter?"
inquired the professor.

"Precisely. Matter never attracts matter, and to
assert that it does is to violate the universal principle
that likes never attract each other but always repel.

A CITIZEN OP VENUS. 335

Consequently matter always repels matter instead of
attracting it."

"You astonish me. I have supposed that the prin-
ciple that matter attracts matter was as well estab-
lished as the fact that the earth revolves on its axis."

"Both are equally incorrect," said Loma with a smile,
while the professor regarded him with amazement.

"This is getting interesting," said the professor, at
last. "If I did not know you to be a philosopher of
no mean merit, I would be inclined to regard you as
a crank, for you are denying the two principles upon
which astronomy has based its greatest triumphs.
But knowing your character, I cannot afford to let
your statements pass unchallenged, and I ask you to
be explicit. If matter does not attract matter, then
Sir Isaac Newton was wrong in his theory of the law
of gravitation, and the foundation of our philosophy is
destroyed. In view of the fact, that our profession,
resting upon the correctness of his theory, has
reached out into space and discovered a planet which
eluded the telescope until it was located with mathe-
matical certainty by the application of the Newtonian
philosophy, I feel secure in the statement that you
have committed yourself to a doctrine you cannot
maintain."

"Sir Isaac Newton is merely the example of an
astute philosopher, who is right in his practice, while
he is wrong in his theory and explanation," answered
Loma. "He did not comprehend the nature of matter
and space, nor of magnetism and electricity, and hence

336 LOMA.

in observing the operation of these forces, he was led
into a wrong statement. But he never taught the
doctrine which has been ascribed to him, that matter
has an innate attraction for other matter, at a distance
without contact, or the intervention of some other
medium. Before you can understand the true theory,
you must be informed as to these matters yourself,
or my explanations would be futile. I will there-
fore begin at the foundation of things, by remark-
ing that all worlds are the product of growth, the off-
spring of the two grand, prime, genitive potencies,
space and matter, which have always existed, and
will always exist, in precisely the same quantity
in which they now exist, but in constantly changing
conditions. Space is the eternal, omnipresent, per-
sistent and continuous female parent of all that is.
Matter is the eternal, limited, consistent and divisible
male element which occupies only a part of space, and
is continually striving to fill it, but never succeeds.
There is a genitive passion in matter for space, and a
genitive passion in space for matter. Space continually
generates this passion in the form of electricity, which
is manifested by the states of receptivity, gravity and
coldness. Matter continually generates this passion
in the form of magnetism, which is manifested by the
states of radiation, vibration and warmth. If you
will recognize the fact that each planet or star is a
body of matter contained in space, but not filling it,
and acting as a center of magnetic radiation, and that
among these centers of radiation are great volumes

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 337

of matterless space, which furnish corresponding cen-
ters of electrical receptivity, and that each subjective
center of magnetic radiation has a special objective
center of electrical receptivity, toward which it is im-
pelled by the eternal affinity of matter for space, as
expressed in these passional attributes, and that for
this reason these centers are constantly changing
their positions in space, you will have comprehended
the fundamental principle which lies at the base of
philosophy, and accounts for the constant mutations
of matter as expressed in motions of all kinds. This
leads to the statement of the true law of gravitation,
which is that matter is always attracted toward the cen-
ter of electrical receptivity which is the center of its own
sphere of organization."

"In the absence of some restraining force, matter
always organizes itself into spheres. This absence
of a restraining force can only exist where there is an
equilibrium between magnetism and electricity, be-
cause where either preponderates there would be a
controlling and hence a restraining force. When this
equilibrium exists, we have the fluid state of matter;
when electricity preponderates it becomes solid, when
magnetism dominates it becomes gaseous. But in the
state of electro-magnetic equilibrium matter always
assumes a spherical shape, because the particles of
matter instantly arrange themselves around a center
of electrical receptivity. As soon as this organization
is perfected, the sphere moves toward another center

338 LOMA,

of electrical receptivity which is the center of the next
higher form of organization and so ad infinitum?''

"Assuming, as the atomical theory does, that the
atom is the smallest possible division of matter, the
molecule is the first arrangement of atoms around a
center of electrical receptivity. In the case of a sub-
stance of matter in a state of electro-magnetic equi-
librium, as water in the fluid state, you will find
that these molecules arrange themselves into another
sphere in the form of the drop. Small drops will
coalesce into another superior sphere and form a large
drop, and this organization will go on indefinitely until
a restraining force is encountered. It is in this way
that star germs are produced at last, and it is by con-
tinued accretions and crystallization that they grow.
As soon as electricity dominates over mag-netism, the
process of crystallization occurs, and the matter be-
comes hard.

"Now, right here occurs a truism, which your philoso-
phers have recognized, but have not accounted for,
and that is, that the atoms of matter do not touch
each other, but are separated by spaces, inconceivably
small, but still sufficient to keep the atoms apart. If
this were not true, there could be no motion among
the atoms, and the theory depends on this fact for its
explanation of phenomena. Now if the atoms attract
each other, this could not possibly be true, for they
would cohere eternally and compactly, and there could
be no mutation. The truth is that every atom is sur-

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 339

rounded by an aura of magnetism, which repels and sep-
arates it from every other atom.

"The pressure of other atoms surrounding it, which
are seeking the same center of electrical receptivity,
causes cohesion, and the process of crystallization pro-
duces solidity. Now, if sufficient heat is applied to
cause magnetism to equal electricity, the fluid state will
be restored, and if the heat is increased until mag-
netism dominates over electricity, the matter will be
restored to its previous gaseous condition, which is
simply the expansion of the magnetic auras of the
atoms until spheres are disorganized. In neither
case is there any attraction of matter for mat-
ter, but always a repulsion. However, as there
is always, in any organized body of matter, a cen-
ter of electrical receptivity, there is an apparent
attraction of other particles of matter, because these
particles seek the same center. As a matter of fact,
however, they can only approach within a limited dis-
tance of each other, when their magnetic auras hold
them apart. As the force with which two bodies of
matter will approach a common center of electrical
receptivity and organize themselves into the same
sphere varies directly as the separate spheres of the
bodies under consideration, which corresponds to their
respective masses and inversely as the square of the
distance between the centers of their separate spheres,
you see that the law of gravitation as practiced by your
astronomers has been correct as to its mathematical
practice while it has been ascribed to incorrect causes.

340 LOMA,

Iii other words, you have ignored the true relation of
particles of matter toward each other, while you have
calculated correctly their behavior toward their re-
spective centers of electrical receptivity."

"Well, I declare," exclaimed Professor Hamilton,
"you have certainly put forth a most plausible expla-
nation of a theory which I was at first inclined to re-
gard as merely visionary. But how do you explain the
fact that if a piece of sealing wax is electrified by rub-
bing it with a piece of flannel and then presented to
two small balls of pith, the balls will first be attracted
to the electrified sealing wax and afterward repelled
both from it and from each other? This certainly
seems to prove that under certain conditions matter
attracts matter, and also that when electrified, matter
repels matter."

"You should say that the sealing wax and the pith
balls are 'magnetized,' instead of 'electrified,' " said
Loma. "All of your nomenclature is incorrect on elec-
trical subjects, because you do not recognize the true
nature of electricity and magnetism, and consequently
you are constantly putting forth false explanations of
the phenomena. The exceedingly mobile force which
is developed when matter is subjected to friction, as in
the case of the sealing wax, and as is the case with
electrical machines, so called, or when it is developed
by chemical action, as in a battery, is the magnetism of
matter. The corresponding degree of genitive passion
which exists in space is electricity. When sealing wax
or glass is subjected to friction by certain kinds of

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. ' 341

material, notably flannel or silk, a high degree of this
passion is generated, and the radiation of magnetism is
increased by the friction which produces vibration.
The pith balls are in a state of gravity, coldness and
receptivity, and when the excited substance is brought
near them a mutual attraction exists as it always does
in bodies that are in opposite conditions. The mag-
netism from the excited substance passes into the pith
balls, and they are changed from a state in which elec-
tricity dominated over magnetism to a state in which
magnetism dominates over electricity. As soon as
this condition is reached they are in a state of repul-
sion from the originally excited substance, and from
each other, according to the law that bodies in a simi-
lar condition universally repel each other, while those
which are in an opposite condition invariably attract."
"You astonish me," said Professor Hamilton with
great interest. "Your theory seems to be consistent
as far as we have gone, but it is so new and so radically
different from the accepted teachings of the schools
that I am obliged to press you further. I shall Be
under obligations to you if you will enlighten me fully"
as to your remarkable doctrines. I am always willing
to learn, and if I can obtain any information from you
which will aid me in my professional employment or
shed new light on any of the problems in which my
profession is interested, I shall forever consider my-
self your debtor."

"If you investigate my theories," said Loma, "you
will reconstruct nearly your entire professional equip-

342 LOMA.

ment, for nearly all the accepted theories respecting
physical astronomy are radically erroneous. To be
brief, and at the same time astonish you, I will remark
that the results to which this investigation will lead
you are as follows :

"First — That the law of gravitation as stated by
Newton is entirely wrong, upon the grounds I have
already stated.

"Second — That the sun does not attract, but con-
stantly repels the planets that surround him, and that
the earth does not attract the moon, nor does any body
of matter ever attract any other body.

"Third — That the earth does not revolve upon its
axis.

"Fourth — That the sun does not radiate light or heat.

"Bold as these propositions are, and flatly contra-
dictory to everything taught in the schools, I am con-
fident that I will be able to make you acknowledge
their truth within two hours."

At this point in the conversation dinner was con-
cluded, and the friends adjourned to the library, where
Loma resumed his instruction. Professor Hamilton
was incredulous and curious, Doctor Bell and the
ladies intensely interested, but confident that Loma
would be able to fully maintain his position, however
radical it might seem.

"Before you begin your demonstration, Doctor
Loma," said the professor, "I wish to be fully informed
as to the precise meaning of the terms you use. I
understood you to say, a few minutes ago, that our

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 343

nomenclature is incorrect on electrical subjects. Now,
to avoid confusion, let us understand each other.
What is electricity?"

"Electricity is the emptiness of space,'' replied
Loma. "As the term is usually employed, it signifies
the force which is generated by the passage of mag-
netism from matter into the receptivity of space,
which is incorrect. The expressions 'electric current,'
'electric fluid,' etc., are all incorrect. To understand
this, let me explain:

"If you can imagine any quantity of space divested
of every atom of matter, you would have absolute
emptiness, a complete vacuum. It would be absolutely
dark, cold and composed; for without matter in some
form, there can be no manifestation of light, heat or
vibration.''

"Certainly," assented the professor.

"Now, if you will conceive such a vacuum to exist,
and conceive that in close proximity to it there is a
body of matter, you will have in the matter the an-
tithesis of the conditions of space, for matter is always
vibratory, in some degree, and heat and light are the
natural results of this vibration. Now, matter is
always disintegrating and throwing off in vibratory
radiation an essence which we call magnetism. This
magnetism is the finest essence of matter, moving in
straight lines in all directions from the body of matter
from which it is radiated. This radiation of magnetism
is the universal property of matter. The phenomena
of light, heat, sound, odor, and all other sensations

344 LOMA,

which assail our senses are simply different degrees of
vibration."

"That is generally admitted as to light and heat,"
said the professor, "but not as to odor. But proceed
with your explanation."

"Now," continued Loma, "it is this antithesis of con-
ditions between space and matter which gives us the
solution of all the problems to which I have referred.
Space is empty and receptive, matter is vibratory and
radiant, and this property of radiation results in a con-
tinued effort on the part of matter to fill space. You
say that Nature abhors a vacuum. The true statement
is that Matter loves Space, and Space loves Matter, and
this eternal affinity results in a constant energy which
is in some form responsible for every phenomenon of
growth and mutation which we witness. When this
force is gathered into a channel by reason of some re-
straining conditions operating to form the channel, it
is currentized to such an extent that we recognize it in
some special form, as in the lightning of the clouds or
the current of a telegraph apparatus. Then jon erro-
neously call it electricity when you should call it mag-
netism. The performances of a dynamo, an electrical
machine, a chemical battery, or any other form of gen-
erator, is in obedience to this law. In either case mat-
ter is decomposed by vibration, radiation results, and
you have magnetism expressed in some form which is
capable of being recognized by one or more of the seven
senses of man."

"Seven senses!" exclaimed Professor Hamilton. "Do

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 345

you claim that man has seven senses? Please enu-
merate them."

"With pleasure," replied Loma. "Man is only able to
recognize the vibration and radiation of magnetism ac-
cording to the scale of his senses, and the degree of vi-
brations to which each sense is attuned. The lowest vi-
brations are those which are cognizable by his sense of
gender. For the recognition of these vibrations he is
provided with sexual organs, which are just as much
organs of sense as his eyes or ears. The sexual organs
take cognizance of gender, and you will discover as you
study life that the lowest forms of life recognize gender,
and reproduce themselves intelligently before they de-
velop feeling. The vibrations which relate to the sense
of touch are next in order. Just one stage finer are
the vibrations experienced in the sensations of taste.
Increase the rapidity of the vibrations another stage,
and you have the sense of hearing; next comes sight,
then the finer vibrations of smell, and above that
the exquisite perception which is exercised in clairvoy-
ance."

"I am obliged to confess again that you astonish me,"
exclaimed the professor, "and yet your statements seem
to be in accordance with observed facts. We have
been a long time reaching the conclusion that heat and
light are simply different degrees of the same energy,
but it is now generally conceded. I see no reason why
your explanation of the cause of other sensations
should not be correct. But 1 am ;tnxious to hear you.
Proceed."

346 LOMA,

"We have now reached a substantial foundation for
a philosophy," resumed Loma. "If we are correct about
this radiation of magnetism from all forms of matter,
then every particle of matter is repelled by every other
particle of matter, and not attracted by it, as erro-
neously stated by Newton. But matter is attracted
by the receptivity of space, and it is the drawing power
of the vacuum which attracts. The presence of centers
of electrical receptivity in space is all that is necessary
to cause particles of matter to arrange themselves
around these centers and form spheres. While every
particle of matter is repelled by every other particle,
yet as they are drawn to a common center of recep-
tivity they seem to be attracting each other. But this
is not in fact true, as I have clearly shown. Now, this
philosophy is in exact accord with the universal law
that likes repel each other while opposites attract.
You cannot iind a single exception to this law in all
nature, and yet in the face of it your profession has
gone on, since the time of Sir Isaac Newton, asserting
that matter attracts matter."

"If you have any lingering doubt about the correct-
ness of this theory," continued Loma, after pausing
to give the professor time to think, "consider the dif-
ference between ice, water and steam. In ice, elec-
tricity dominates to such a degree that crystallization
has occurred, and heat is at a minimum. Increase
the degree of heat and you have fluidity as a result,
or the equilibrium between electric and magnetic con-
ditions. Increase the heat and the increased radia-

A CITIZEN OF VENTS. 347

tion of magnetism will separate the molecules and
you will have steam. You will, of course, admit that
all the elements are subject to these conditions ac-
cording to the degree of heat existing.

"The experiment with the pith balls simply proves
the same fact. While the sealing wax and the pith
balls remain at the same temperature as the surround-
ing atmosphere, there is no special exhibition of phe-
nomena, because the electro-magnetic conditions are
not disturbed. But friction applied to the sealing
wax causes vibration and radiation, a change in the
temperature and a disturbance of the electro-magnetic
equilibrium occurs. Then the balls being dominated
by electricity really attract the sealing wax, but the
balls approach the sealing wax because they are light
and suspended, while the sealing wax is heavy and
fixed, but the attraction is mutual whenever a sphere
of receptivity is organized with radiant matter to fill
it. But if this sphere is occupied by a radiant body of
matter and the balls are also radiant with magnetism,
they will be repelled, both from the radiant body and
from each other."

"I can readily understand from these facts,"1 said
Professor Hamilton, "that all that you claimed in your
second proposition must be true. The sun as a radiant
body of matter must repel the planets that surround
him, and, obeying the same law, the moon must be
repelled by the earth. Now, this repulsion of the
planets by the solar center clearly explains the ecu
trifugal force which we have always recognized as

348 LOMA,

existing, but which I ninst confess I never before com-
prehended. And, if I understand you, the universal
tendency of matter to organize itself into spheres ex-
plains the organization of the planets themselves, and
furnishes the centripetal force by the universal tend-
ency toward centers of electrical receptivity. Now,
if we carry this to its fullest extent, the particles of
matter composing the moon are drawn to its center;
the moon and the matter composing the earth are
organized into a larger sphere, represented by the
orbit of the moon around the earth; this sphere is
included in a still larger one represented by the orbits
of the planets around the sun, and the sun and all of
these spheres are moving together through space to-
ward another center of electrical receptivity, and so
on ad infinitum. Am I right in this statement?''

"Precisely," said Loma, "and you may continue the
process indefinitely as long as the intellect of man can
comprehend it, for there is no limit to space. Matter
is limited and divisible, but space is unlimited, per-
sistent and continuous. You have gone as far as it
is possible for man to go in comprehending the un-
limited."

"I believe you are right in your theory of gravita-
tion," said the professor, after a pause, "but I reserve
the right to find objections to it if I can. But you
said that the earth does not revolve on its axis. I am
curious to know why you should entertain that theory.
If the earth does not revolve on its axis, what causes
day and night?"

A CITIZEN OP VENUS. 349

"The earth revolves, but not on its axis. The ques-
tion of the production of day and night is not involved.
for we are agreed that these conditions follow from
the revolution of the earth in some way. But instead
of revolving on an axis, as a top spins on the floor, it
rolls on the periphery of its magnetic aura, as a wheel
revolves on the ground."

"Please explain:"

"First, let me ask you some questions," said Loma,
with his most winning and diplomatic smile. "In
round numbers, what is the circumference of the
earth?"

"Nearly twenty-five thousand miles," replied the pro-
fessor.

"The earth is progressing through space in the direc-
tion in which it revolves, is it not?"

"Certainly."

"At what rate of speed?"

"About eighteen miles per second."

"And that would be per day?"

"About one million five hundred and fifty-five thou-
sand two hundred miles."

"Good. Now, how do you explain this discrepancy?
A ball rolling along and progressing in the direction
of its rotary motion will only progress the length of
its circumference during each revolution. According
to this the earth should only progress about twenty-five
thousand miles in twenty-four hours, when we know it
progresses more than a million and a half."

350 LOMA.

The professor was nonplused for a moment, but in
stantly rallied.

"Why, it does not follow that the earth is confined
to the progression given by its circumference. That
would be true of a ball rolling on a solid surface, but
the earth is not rolling on a solid surface. It is revolv-
ing through space, and its progress is due to some
other force."

"What is this other force, when did it originate, and
what causes it to continue?"

"I don't know."

"There you are, and that is where you all land, until
you comprehend the true facts. You understand from
our previous conversation that the earth and sun are
both bodies of matter radiating magnetism and re-
pelling each other, but drawn together by a common
center of electrical receptivity which attracts them
both. Now, both the earth and sun are surrounded
by their respective auras of repellant magnetism.
These magnetisms collide at some distance between
the earth and sun, and the smaller sphere of the
earth's magnetism rolls around the larger sphere of
the sun's magnetism, as a small wheel may be made
to roll around the rim or periphery of a. larger one.
According to the figures you have just named, repre-
senting the progression of the earth, the diameter
of the earth's sphere of magnetism is something less
than five hundred thousand miles; hence the line of
equilibrium upon which the sphere of the earth travels
must be about two hundred and fifty thousand miles

A CITIZEN OF VENUS.

351

r; rgcu

352 LOMA,

from the earth's center, iu the direction of the sun.
This theory accounts not only for the progression of
the earth through space, but for its revolution also,
as the constant mutation of the centers of electrical
receptivity in space produces a constant gravity, and
this line of equilibrium being established by the col-
lision of the earth's magnetism with that of the sun
there is nothing more inevitable than that the earth
should revolve and progress in obedience to it. Every
other star, planet and satellite revolves and progresses
in the same way in obedience to the same great law."

"Your theory certainly seems plausible," said the
professor admiringly, "and I will take it under consid-
eration. At the first blush it certainly seems reasona-
ble, but I must subject it to careful scrutiny before
I adopt it. But I am curious to know why you be-
lieve that the sun does not radiate light or heat.
You have commanded my respect and admiration by
what you have already explained, and I am anxious
to hear your discussion of the last proposition."

In a few brief but comprehensive sentences Loma
explained the causes of heat and light as he had ex-
plained them to Doctor Bell on the first morning of
their acquaintance, showing that heat and light are
the result of the vibration of the magnetism of the
sun in the atmosphere of the earth. The professor
plied him with searching questions, all of which Loma
answered with his usual graciousness and perspicuity.
Finally, the professor said:

"You have certainly defended your remarkable doc-

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 353

trines with great ability. I shall give them the most
searching investigation and criticism, and shall hope
to meet you again for a more complete discussion."

"I shall be delighted to meet you at any time," said
Loma, "but my stay in Chicago will be short, and I
may not have the pleasure. But while you are study-
ing these doctrines, there is just one more prob-
lem 1 would like to leave with you for the exercise
of your mentality. We have seen that the earth re-
volves about the sun at a mean distance of 91,328,000
miles, consequently the amount of heat given off by
the sun must be sufficient to heat a sphere of double
that distance in diameter surrounding his center, to
the same degree that he heats the earth."

"Certainly," said the professor again.

"Now, we also know that the sun is progressing
through space in the direction of the constellation
Hercules, carrying the earth with him, at a rate vari-
ously estimated from 150,000,000 miles to 1,051,200,000
miles per annum, of which the latter figures are prob-
ably the most correct, and during this process the
orbit of the earth moves through a cylinder of space
182,()5(»,000 miles in diameter, and in one year 1,051,-
200,000 miles in length, which the sun must heat in
his passage to the same degree according to the ac-
cepted theory. Now, it is one thing to heat a given
quantity of space with a heater that is stationary,
but quite another thing to heat new space with it
when it is moving through the new space at the rate
at which the sun travels. I would like to have you

88

354 LOMA,

figure on me amount of matter the sun contains and
then estimate how much fuel it would take to warm
up that much space with a heater of the sun's magni-
tude moving at that rate. You will find it about as
absurd to ascribe the warming of this space to the sun
as to propose to raise Lake Michigan to the boiling
point by the heat from the furnaces of one of the steam-
ers on its bosom.

"Magnetism, however, travels with greater velocity
than light, and it is not difficult to conceive of a much
larger space being filled with the light developed by the
magnetism of the sun during his passage, if there was
an atmosphere to develop it, so that there is nothing un-
reasonable in supposing that he fills the space of this
stupendous cylinder with his magnetism, and this mag-
netism passing to the planets around him produces
all the phenomena I have described as it encounters
the resistance of the atmospheres of the planets."

"There is only one thing in your sublime explana-
tion of astronomy that I have not fully comprehended,"
said Doctor Bell, who, up to this point, had remained
a silent but absorbed listener, "and that is, how star
germs are produced by parent stars."

"Every star, including the earth, is a hollow sphere,"
replied Loma, "and is a living organ of the male gen-
der, having an outer crust with which we are familiar,
an inner crust lining the interior cavity, and between
these two crusts a bed of molten lava, which is the
product of the restrained magnetism of the star, which
produces internal heat. The inner cavity of every ma-

A CITIZEN OF VENUS.

355

356 LOMA,

ture star is provided with two vents, one at each pole,
from which there is a constant escape of magnetism
which produces the phenomena known as the aurora
borcalis. The restrained magnetism of the star breaks
through the crust in both directions, on the inner and
outer surfaces in volcanic eruptions. The matter
which is thrown out upon the outer surface in obedi-
ence to the law of gravitation falls back upon the
star and is incorporated into its sphere. But the con-
stant discharge of matter from the inner surface is
collected in the cavity and formed into small spheres,
just as pills are formed in the pill box of an apoth-
ecary. When one of these spheres collects sufficient
material to radiate magnetism strongly repellant to the
magnetism of the parent star, it is discharged by the
force of these repellant magnetisms through one of
the polar vents into outer space, and these discharges
are accompanied with great seismic disturbances.
You can understand that it takes ages to form one of
these germs of sufficient magnitude to produce a dis-
charge. But at intervals these discharges take place,
and the germ thus originated in the 'loins of its father'
(to use a figurative expression) is deposited by its
father, the parent star, in the broad womb of space,
where it passes through the stage of incubation. Our
moon is a planet germ in the stage of incubation. It
has progressed so far that it has a hollow interior and
one polar vent, which is on the side opposite the earth,
as it would naturally be, as the discharge of magnet-
ism from the vent antagonizes the magnetism of the

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 357

earth and forces the moon into that position; hence
we see only one side of the moon, which is the side
opposite the vent. When it. progresses far enough to
form another vent, which will occur opposite the first,
in the side now turned toward the earth, the moon
will pass from incubation to complete life, turn side-
ways to the earth and begin a diurnal motion similar
to that displayed by the earth, or any other completely
incubated planet. It will also form an atmosphere, and
then will occur upon the moon the same succession of
growths that have already occurred upon the earth.

"The principal reason why these scientific facts
have escaped the comprehension of modern scientists
is this," said Loma, in conclusion: "The human race
has become so saturated with a theology which teaches
that, all things have their origin in the decree of a lone
masculine god, and which ignores completely the
motherhood of God which is just as essential as the
fatherhood, and human sociology has so degraded
woman to the level of a chattel of man, so that she is
held in contempt and all things feminine are despised,
that your scientists are incapable of comprehending
the passional relations of space and matter. As long
as they ignore the prime, iingenerated, infinite all-
mother, space, in their calculations, their conclusions
will be erroneous, their efforts vain, their attempts to
solve the problems of nature puerile, and their own
advancement impossible."

CHAPTER XXII.

THE NATIVITY.

"And tbo angel said unto them, 'Fear not; for behold I
bring you good tidings of great joy wbicb sball be to all
people.' * * *

"And suddenly there was with the angel :i multitude of the
heavenly host, praising God and saying:

" 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will
toward men.' "

The time for Myrtle's parturition arrived at last, and
the young mother, prepared by every precaution and
assistance which science could suggest, and sustained
by the loving ministrations of her devoted friends,
passed through the ordeal in perfect safety and with
no pain. The careful attention which had been given
to her diet and regimen had resulted in the most favor-
able bodily conditions, and instead of the distressing
circumstances usually attendant upon childbirth, Myr-
tle experienced only delightful sensations. In this she
was greatly assisted by Loma, who, being a master of
hypnotism, placed her under control at the proper sea-
son, and not only protected her from unpleasant effects,
but by the power of suggestion, regulated the precise
moment of her delivery and its attendant consequences.
So perfectly did Myrtle yield to the masterful influ-
ence of her protector and lover that on the second

(359)

360 LOMA.

day after her delivery her normal condition was com-
pletely regained.

The first signs of parturition manifested themselves
at eleven o'clock in the forenoon of the day upon which
Loma had suggested her delivery, and the birth oc-
curred precisely at noon. Loma explained that this
was arranged in accordance with Myrtle's tempera-
ment and constitution, and that she reached the
highest point of her daily vitality at that hour. Con-
sequently he had suggested the delivery at the precise
moment when her delicate and impressionable consti-
tution was at its most favorable condition for the dis-
play of resistance and strength.

At the moment of parturition Loma stood at the
foot of the couch upon which Myrtle reclined, and, ex-
tending his arms, poured forth his incomparable mag-
netism in a flood of glory. Myrtle, bathed in this sus-
taining and life-giving emanation, felt no pain, but
simply relaxed her nerves in a succession of happy im-
pressions. Doctor and Mrs. Bell, administering the
professional details of the accouchement, performed
their duties with consummate skill. In a few moments
Myrtle, radiant with joy, clasped to her breast the
beautiful fruit of her first maternity.

When the last details of the delivery had been ac-
complished, Loma spoke:

"Beloved, as I once gave you a glimpse into the re-
gions of the blessed, when the first compact of our love
was sealed, so now if you will join hands and become
receptive, I will show you how the advent of the fifth

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 361

member of our sacred circle is celebrated in Venus," and
as Myrtle extended her hands to the doctor and Mrs.
Bell, Loma raised his hands and extended them, as
he had done on a former occasion, while the intensity
of his magnetism increased to its dazzling degree.

A vision of enchanting loveliness overwhelmed the
senses of the young mother and her devoted friends.
Again the strains of heavenly music ravished their
ears, but this time their senses were sufficiently devel-
oped to comprehend its import. Human forms of sur-
passing beauty encompassed them, while the very air
they breathed was surcharged with the magnetism
radiated by these forms in waves of glory. Delicious
sensations assailed every avenue of intelligence, and
all seemed to unite in one grand crescendo into the ex-
pression:

"Glory to God iu the highest,
On earth peace, good will toward men."

Loma permitted his proteges to thrill in the joy of
this experience for several minutes. Then as their
receptivities became exhausted, and they were unable
to comprehend more, he lowered his magnetism, and
they fell into the deep sleep which had before fol-
lowed the manifestation of his power. For several
hours they continued to sleep while Loma maintained
his vigil over all. Doctor Bell and his mother re-
gained consciousness before Myrtle, whom Loma con-
tinued to impress with loving and solicitous affection
until the last vestige of fatigue and weakness from her
recent experience had passed away.

362 LOMA,

Beautiful indeed was Myrtle's offspring. Perfect in
every feature, strong- in every element of vitality, in-
stead of coming into the world crying, as is the case
with nearly every child born to the human race, as it
was received by the motherly hands of Mrs. Bell it
instantly began its respiration, and as it did so smiled.
And as the deft hands of the experienced matron as-
sisted it to increase the power of its lungs, soft cooing
notes of inexpressible sweetness came from its infant
lips. And thus began the life which was destined to
bless the world with the unfolding germs of the new
civilization.

When Myrtle had in some measure regained her
composure after the first thrilling sensations of moth-
erhood, Loma approached her, and, clasping about her
neck a beautiful gold necklace, bearing upon its front
a magnificent solitaire diamond, weighing over six
carats, kissed her affectionately, and said :

"Exalted one, receive the badge of motherhood as it
is worn in Venus. You have brought a jewel to the
state. The state salutes you with its congratulations,
and every citizen acknowledges an obligation to you.
Henceforth your place is with the honored matrons, to
whom the state is indebted for its life and perpetuity."

Myrtle received her new honor with becoming dig-
nity. Doctor and Mrs. Bell congratulated her affec-
tionately, and each presented her with a beautiful
jewel. Faithful Nora headed the servants of the
household in a brief but happy interview, and then the
young mother again sank into blissful repose.

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 363

On the day following her delivery. Myrtle, with her
full strength completely regained, held a levee of con-
gratulation. Mr. McDonald and his sister were among
the early callers, and the small circle of devoted friends
to whom Myrtle had been introduced by the doctor
and Mrs. Bell made the young mother supremely happy
by their delicate attentions.

On the third day after her delivery a remarkable
event occurred. At about eleven o'clock a visitor was
announced, who was met in the parlor by Doctor Bell.
As the doctor entered the parlor he was greeted by a
man of commanding appearance and scholarly de-
meanor, who said:

"Doctor Bell, my mission may seem strange to you,
but I am the representative of a scientific association
which is unknown to the world, because its mem-
bers live on a plane so exalted that we do not court
notoriety. But among the privileges we enjoy by
reason of our superior knowledge is the power of dis-
cerning from astrological data and clairvoyant percep-
tion when an extraordinary event takes place in any
part of the world. We have discovered by means
which I may not take time to explain, what I am sure
must be known to you, that within the past three
days a child has been born in this house which we are
informed will bless the world with his greatness and
virtue. There are within a few hundred miles of
Chicago, thirty members of our cult, who have been
summoned to meet, in this city for the purpose of suit-
ably recognizing and celebrating the happy event. I

364 LOMA,

have been delegated by my associates to come to you
and ask for the privilege of congratulating the mother
of the coming prodigy, and of feasting our eyes on
what we know to be the only perfect human child
which has been born upon this planet for nearly nine-
teen hundred years,"

Doctor Bell was at first considerably surprised at
this message, but he was too polite and self-possessed
to betray it. With his usual courtly grace he re-
quested his visitor to be seated, while he made some
inquiries of his colleagues.

In the library he found Loma, to whom he commu-
nicated the request of the visitor.

"I have been expecting this," said Loma, with one
of his peculiar smiles, "although it is not a necessary
part of my experience. I have known of the exist-
ence of the cult to which he belongs, and I have been
curious to see whether they would be able to locate
Myrtle's offspring. They are proceeding upon correct
lines and developing some very interesting powers,
and it will be our happy privilege to extend them every
courtesy. Mary and Joseph were visited by a similar
delegation at the time of the birth of Jesus, and they
are referred to in the Bible as the 'wise men from the
East' I shall be pleased to meet the gentleman my-
self."

Doctor Bell and Loma proceeded to the parlor,
where they both extended distinguished courtesies to
the stranger, who introduced himself as Professor

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 365

James Gannon. When the doctor asked bis residence,

lie replied:

"I am not a resident of any city or country, neither
are any of my colleagues. We are so thoroughly con-
vinced that the present organization of society is
wrong that we cannot consistently allow ourselves to
become identified with any of its permanent organiza-
tions. We live natural lives as far as possible with-
out offending those with whom we come in contact,
but while we are organized for purposes of communi-
cation and mutual study, we are practically inde-
pendent of organized society. We are simply known
to each other as the 'Associated Philosophers.' "

It was arranged that the Associated Philosophers
should have a reception at noon on the following day,
and Professor Gannon took his leave.

Precisely at twelve o'clock on the next day the dele-
gation arrived. They were at first received in the par-
lor by Doctor and Mrs. Pell, and by them conducted
in a body to the conservatory, where Loma. and Myrtle,
with her beautiful babe, awaited them.

The Associated Philosophers consisted of fifteen
handsome, dignified and scholarly men and an equal
number of beautiful, attractive and cultivated women.
Myrtle received them with her accustomed grace, and
while she delighted her visitors with her own beauty
and sweet womanliness, she was also herself over-
whelmed with their expressions of devotion and kind-
ness. Every one of the delegation caressed her and

366 LOMA,

her baby boy, and each one presented her with some
beautiful token of friendship.

Two hours were spent in delightful conversation and
music, when the philosophers departed, leaving Myrtle
enriched with a magnificent collection of presents, and
what she valued more highly, substantial pledges of
personal devotion to her and her highly favored off-
spring.

Doctor Bell was unremitting in his loyalty and de-
votion to Myrtle. Every possible provision had been
made for her comfort and protection by him during her
six months' sojourn under his roof. Now that the
ordeal was safely passed by Myrtle, and she was a
happy mother, in the complete possession of normal
health, which had never for one moment been disturbed
by her experience, his professional gratification was
only exceeded by his personal joy in her happiness.
Myrtle was deeply conscious of his devotion and love,
and reciprocated it in a complete degree.

In one of their delightful interviews in the conserva-
tory, when she and the doctor were bending over her
beautiful babe in transports of affectionate admiration,
Myrtle entwined her arms about his neck and kissed
him affectionately, saying:

"Oh, I owe so much to you for all this happiness.
Without your love and protection I would have been
dead and disgraced, instead of being the happiest and
most honored woman in the world. How can I ever
reward you and show my gratitude and love?"

"My reward has come already, in being permitted to

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 367

share in this happiness," said the doctor, as he returned
her caress. "Gratitude 1 do not require, for the con-
sciousness of duty well performed is always the reward
of correct action. But," he continued, as he stood be-
fore Myrtle and clasped both of her hands in his, while
his manly voice trembled with deep emotion and his
eves gazed into hers with an expression which thrilled
her with happiness, "if you wish to show your love, and
you love me well enough, you can make me the happiest
man in the world, by becoming my adored, my incom-
parable consort."

Myrtle buried her face on his shoulder while her
slight frame trembled with the highest sensations of

joy.

"Oh, Edward," she exclaimed, "I thought I was su-
premely happy in my glorious motherhood, but this
is transcendent joy. I have loved you from the first
day I knew you, and you have filled my life with every
sweet experience of which it is capable."

Just at this moment Loma entered the conservatory,
and seeing the expressions of the faces of the doctor
and Myrtle, both of whom were radiant with their new
happiness, he comprehended the situation at once.
He advanced and embraced them both, glowing with
his richest expression of magnetism.

"My blessed lovers!'' he exclaimed, as he caressed
them, "I have been wondering how long it would take
you to realize how necessary you are to each other and
to consummate your happiness. You will accept my
loving congratulations and my highest blessing.'"

368 LOMA,

At this point Loiiia was interrupted by the entrance
of Mrs. Bell into the conservatory, and when the situa-
tion was explained to her, she overwhelmed the lovers
with her maternal benediction.

"I have been praying for this," she exclaimed with
rapture, "and my prayer being answered, my joy is com-
plete."

As Mrs. Bell ceased speaking the babe awakened
from a deep slumber, and, opening its eyes, looked into
the face of Doctor Bell, and smiled, at the same time
raising its tiny hands and voicing the sweet and cooing
sounds which were peculiar to it.

"See," said Loma, "the babe extends its congratula-
tions also, and welcomes the protection of its devoted
foster-father."

Doctor Bell pressed his bearded lips to the forehead
of the beautiful child, while he murmured:

"May nature deal with me as I am faithful to the
high trust imposed upon me, and as my love is devoted
to this child and its royal mother."

"Amen!" said Loma fervently, while Myrtle embraced
her betrothed lover and Mrs. Bell smiled upon both.

After the transports of this new experience had sub
sided in part, Doctor Bell addressed Loma affection-
ately and seriously, while he said:

"There is a subject which lies nearest to my heart at
the present moment upon which I wish to be instructed,
and I think Myrtle and my mother will also be grateful
for an expression from you. Now, that Myrtle and my-
self are betrothed as consorts, the subject of marriage

A CITIZEN OF VENTS. 369

is before us. Hitherto I have never considered mar
riage at all, because 1 was absorbed in my profession,
and I did not expect to ever assume the relationship,
which I have always considered degrading to both
woman and man, and I never expected 1o meet any
woman who could cause me to consider it. But recent
events have changed all of these considerations, and
now that I have met and loved Myrtle, I am anxious to
do wThat is exactly right. I do not wish that either she
or myself should be subjected to the degrading condi-
tions of marriage if I can avoid it. Yet I fully realize
that unless we enter into some form of a legal marriage
our social and my professional standing will be imper-
iled, and we will be subject to many inconveniences
which will fall more heavily upon her than upon my-
self. At the same time we owe a duty to society -to
set an example of a correct life, and it seems impossible
to do this in marriage. I appeal to you in this dilemma
for complete instruction as to what should be done for
the benefit of Myrtle, her offspring, myself and society
at large."

"I have already considered this problem," replied
Loma, "and am ready w7ith its solution. The degrada-
tion of marriage consists, not in the fad that men and
women marry, and call the contract by that name, but
in the fact that they violate nature by promising to do
impossible things, by assuming ownership over each
other, and by regarding the relationship as only deter-
minable by the death or the criminal action of one or the
other of the parties. To enable Myrtle to enjoy the priv-

24

370 LOMA,

ileges of society, and to enable you to give her boy the
advantages he should have, it is desirable that you
should occupy a position giving the largest freedom of
action without unnecessarily antagonizing the society
in which you move. You will enjoy greater privileges
in society' and greater immunity from persecution
during the boyhood and adolescence of your charge if
you apparently conform to the usages of society in this
respect, while you may at the same time introduce a
radical reform into the marriage ceremony itself. By
so doing you will accomplish greater good for society
and perform a higher duty than you will by antag-
onizing your associates and suffering martyrdom.
This was the plan pursued by the followers of Gall-
heim upon our planet, who practiced a reformed style
of marriage for several generations. This is the next
natural step towards complete freedom, and you should
conscientiously conform to it instead of overstepping
the plans of natural development and attempting to
force the growth of institutions which take time to
mature. I therefore suggest, that as my time with
you is necessarily short, and I am anxious to consum-
mate my mission as speedily as possible, that you
allow me to celebrate your ceremony of consorting as
we practice it in Venus, and that you publish it as a
marriage according to the reformed method proclaimed
by Grailheim, while, in fact, you repudiate all the de-
grading implications of the conventional marriage, and
that the ceremony take place in a public manner so as
to create the greatest possible impression."

A CITIZEN OF VENTS. 371

To this tlio doctor ami Myrtle eagerly consented, and,
after consulting with Mrs. Bell, it was aranged that the
ceremony should take place on the following Wednes-
day, at noon, and invitations were immediately issued
to five hundred guests, among whom were included
Myrtle's relatives, the friends and associates of Doctor
and Mrs. Bell, the Associated Philosophers and rep-
resentatives of the press. As the immediate associ-
ates of Doctor and Mrs. Bell had for some time been
incorporated as a religious society under the laws of
the State of Illinois, and as Loma had been shortly
after his arrival upon the earth admitted to the society
and made one of its leaders and teachers, it was ar-
ranged that the ceremony should be conducted under
the auspices of the society, and the invitations were
so worded.

CHAPTER XXIII.

MARRIAGE UNDER THE NEW CIVILIZATION.

"For always in thine eyes, O Liberty!
Shines that high light whereby the world is saved."

"Self-abnegation, subservience to man. whether he be
father, lover or husband, is the most dangerous theory that
can be taught to or forced upon a woman. She has no right
to transmit a nature that is subservient and a slavish char-
acter, either blindly obedient or blindly rebellious, and there-
fore set, as is a time lock, to prey or to be preyed upon by the
society of the future. If woman is not brave enough person-
ally to demand and obtain absolute personal liberty of action,
equality of status, entire control of her great and race-endow-
ing function, maternity, she has no right to dare to stamp
upon a child and to curse a race with the descendants of such
a servile, a dwarfed, time and master serving character."

The day which had been set for the celebration of
the ceremony of consorting of Doctor Bell and Myrtle
dawned auspiciously. The wedding ceremony was ar-
ranged to take place at noon, and some time before
that hour the invited guests began to arrive in large
numbers. The conservatory and music room, together
with the two huge bedrooms usually occupied by Loma
and Myrtle, which connected, as the reader knows, with
the conservatory, had been arranged into a charming
auditorium capable of accommodating all of (he in-
vited guests, and had been beautifully decorated.

(373)

374 LOMA,

The devoted circle of young people who had taken
such great interest in Myrtle from the first, were now
much in evidence. Loma had taken enough of them
into his confidence to make most elaborate arrange-
ments for the use of their services to produce desira-
ble effects, and as the doctor, Myrtle and Mrs. Bell
were to sustain principal parts in the ceremony,
with himself, he had arranged that the social and hos-
pitable courtesies of the occasion should be performed
by committees of these friends as he was able to make
them available.

The' guests were received in the parlors below, and
escorted to the conservatory as they arrived by a com-
mittee of young ladies and gentlemen selected for this
service. Another band of ushers received them at the
conservatory, and provided them with seats. As each
guest took the position assigned, one of the ushers pre-
sented a beautiful souvenir containing superb portraits
of the doctor and Myrtle, and a copy of the ceremony
ritual, printed in gold upon the finest quality of white
silk.

The music room adjoining the conservatory had been
beautifully decorated and made to resemble the chan-
cel of a cathedral, being covered with white silk
throughout, embellished with white roses. The foun-
tain in the conservatory was transformed into a bank
of white roses and calla lilies. Throughout the im-
provised auditorium the decorations had been carried
out on a similar scale, white being the only color of
the flowers and decorations used. The organ in the

A CITIZEN OP VENUS. 375

music room was concealed beneath a mass of white
roses, and at the keys presided Miss Carrie William-
son, one of the most accomplished organists of the city,
arrayed in a costume of pure white, with a single white
rose in her hair.

Professor Hamilton, who had returned from Madi-
son, Wisconsin, was among the invited guests, but not
being a man of social tastes, he took no con-
spicuous part in the ceremony. Mr. McDonald
and his sister were expected, but when he arrived,
to the astonishment of the friends who formed the
reception committee, he was accompanied not only
by his sister, but by his wife. The latter had been
entirely overcome by the accounts her husband gave
of the munificent hospitality of the Bells, and by his
description of the remarkable character of Loma. As
soon as she realized that Myrtle had indeed been
adopted by rich and powerful friends, her selfish and
narrow nature had secretly craved for an opportunity
to resume friendly relations with the girl whom she
had so shamelessly cast out of her own home, but pride
and the apparent lack of a suitable opportunity had
prevented her from making the attempt. But when
she heard that Myrtle was about to be married, and
found herself included in an invitation to attend the
ceremony, her curiosity to see Loma and Myrtle's pros-
perity found a ready excuse in the statement that she
was glad Myrtle was about to return to the ranks of
"respectability." And so she appeared among the in-
vited guests, with her pharisaical crust a little thicker

376 LOMA,

than usual over her thin veneer of intelligence, too
ignorant to comprehend the hospitality which made it
possible for her to be present, too narrow to appreciate
the loving and forgiving spirit in which the invitation
had been sent, and too much absorbed in the gratifica-
tion of her own selfish desires and curiosity to realize
the import of the event or the meaning of the cere-
mony with which it was celebrated.

And as she sat in the auditorium watching the prog-
ress of events, herself in fact, the least respectable per-
son in the bright assemblage, she represented the cur-
rent of modern society and public opinion, of which
Loma had said to Doctor Bell:

"Society will look upon your ceremony of consorting
with Myrtle as simply an ordinary marriage with per-
haps some extraordinary features, of which they will
take but little notice. But the thoughtful and the pro-
found will see in this celebration a complete revolution
of the institution of marriage, because the principles
declared and the words spoken will be, in effect, a
complete contradiction of the usual form. So while
you will comply with the law in taking Myrtle as your
wife, you will inaugurate an entirely new view of the
relationship, and accomplish more for the reform of
marriage than could be done in any other way. This
was the course pursued by the followers of Gallheim,
and as soon as the intelligent portion of the community
are educated in this way to a rational relationship
between man and woman, they will be prepared for
the next great step which will consist in the abolition

A CITIZEN OF VENTS. 377

of all pledges and the simple recognition of the rela-
tionship, in which pledges will be unnecessary, be-
cause they will be implied by every principle of good
behavior."

The Associated Philosophers were early among the
guests, and were assigned to places of special honor
near the improvised chancel. It was noticed that they
were attired in striking costumes of white satin, the
peculiar habit of their order on formal occasions.

Nora and the other devoted servants of the house
hold had been given good seats in the auditorium,
together with a number of other persons who were in
some measure the recipients of the splendid philan-
thropy of Doctor and Mrs. Bell. Representatives of
all the daily papers were on hand, prepared to report
the details of what they had already been given to un-
derstand would be an interesting departure from con-
ventional methods.

Precisely as the clock struck twelve, the organ filled
the conservatory with the sublime strains of a new
wedding march, which had been arranged by Loma for
the organist, and which he had stated was first used
in Venus on the occasion of the marriage of Gallheim's
only daughter. At the same moment, amid a flutter of
excitement, the ceremonial procession entered the rear
of the conservatory and proceeded to the chancel, while
the audience rose and remained standing.

First came seven beautiful little girls and an equal
number of handsome little boys, arrayed in cos-
tumes of pure white, scattering white roses and

378 LOMA,

delicious perfume over the aisle which led from
the entrance to the chancel. Following these
came Mr. McDonald, with Myrtle leaning upon his
arm. Mr. McDonald was arrayed in a conventional
dress suit of black, with a single white rose upon the
lapel of his coat. Myrtle was dressed in a simple white
gown, of the most delicate silk, beautifully embroid-
ered, but wearing no ornaments save the ring and neck-
lace which she had received from Loma, which were
the badges of her glorious maternity. Her neck and
shoulders were bare, and her golden hair, left without
restriction, fell in beautiful waves to her waist. As
she walked up the aisle leaning upon the arm of her
uncle, her face was radiant with serene joy, and she
presented a picture of classic loveliness and grace.

Irnniediatety following Myrtle and her uncle came
Doctor Bell, leaning upon the arm of his mother.
Both were arrayed in garments of immaculate white
satin, and wore no ornaments, save that Mrs. Bell wore
a necklace bearing a large solitaire diamond, similar
to that worn by Myrtle. Doctor Bell was a conspicu-
ous example of manly dignity and self-possession as
he advanced to the chancel with his mother and took
his position on the right, while Myrtle and her uncle
stood at the left of the chancel. The fourteen attend-
ing cherubs ranged themselves in a semi-circle behind
the contracting parties, just as Loma, who had been
concealed behind a bank of roses in the chancel, ad-
vanced and met the procession. Loma was attired in
a simple toga of white silk, with bare arms and

A CITIZEN OF VENT'S.

379

shoulders, and wore as ornaments a necklace bearing
three magnificent diamonds, and four superb solitaire
diamond rings, besides three smaller ones ornamented
with clusters of sapphires and rubies. These had
been manufactured at Doctor Bell's order for the oc-
casion, and were exact duplicates, according to de-
scriptions furnished by Loma, of the ornaments he
wore in Venus as emoluments of his distinguished
services. His body was pervaded with a mellow glow
of his magnetism, which shone most conspicuously
in a halo of glory around his head. His appear;m< :e
was the signal for a complete silence, and hush of
awe which fell upon the assemblage as they contem-
plated his glorious personality. Facing the audience
in his commanding dignity and in tones which thrilled
his hearers with new and overwhelming emotions, he
said :

"Dearly beloved, the event which is about to occur
is one of transcendent importance, not only to the
high contracting parties, who have chosen in this man-
ner to call you to witness the compact of their love,
but to the entire human race, which has heretofore
been impeded in its advancement and development by
false conceptions of the duties of men and women
to each other and to society. Marriage is honorable
in all, if the motives and intentions of the parties are
honorable, and those intentions are carried out in the
spirit of love and devotion. But humanity is of more
value than any ceremonial observance, and any com-
pact which degrades humanity or any member of so-

380 LOMA,

ciety is contrary to the laws of Nature, which are
higher than any which are the result of the opinions
or the enactment of any body of men.

"The laws of j^our commonwealth are almost suffi-
ciently liberal and rational to allow the correct asso-
ciation of man and woman at this stage of the progress
of the world. They merely require that the contract-
ing parties should acknowledge in the presence of
witnesses that they take each other as man and wife.
Your civil law is in advance of your social customs,
for in the usual ceremony performed in your churches
and often by the civil magistrate, pledges of a de-
grading and stultifying nature are required of the
parties, in addition to the simple declaration of mar-
riage in which the law wisely leaves pledges of conduct
to the implications of good sense and morality. As
soon as your public sentiment is sufficiently educated,
and your laws are so amended as to permit the correc
tion of matrimonial mistakes, without the scandal of
divorce, or the commission of crime by either party to
secure liberty, your conditions will be favorable for the
development of perfect morality.

"The only association of man and woman in mar-
riage which can possibly result in good to society is
that which is founded upon mutual love, respect and
admiration, which associates persons who are adapted
to make each other happy by the possession of those
attributes of character which are conducive to each
other's well being and which meet the demands of
each other's natures, where love has been tested by

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 381

sufficient association and experiment, and is known
to exist, and where there is a mutual, sincere and
reasonable desire for its continued exercise. In such
cases we believe that, as far as the parties themselves
are concerned, there is no necessity for any ceremo-
nial declaration or mutual pledge. Bnt for the edifi-
cation of society, for the proper register of the rela-
tionship, and for an example for the emulation of those
who have not progressed to a similar state of felicity.
we believe in and practice the ceremony which fol-
lows."

While the organ vibrated the perfumed air with a
solemn but exceedingly sweet refrain, Loma, glowing
to a somewhat higher degree of magnetism, raised his
hands toward the sun, which at that moment flooded
the conservatory with light, and pronounced the follow-
ing invocation:

"Infinite Source of Creation! Thou who revealest
Thyself to us in the warming rays of the sun, in the
perfume of the flowers, and in every progression of
Thy handiwork, including our own intelligence and
advancement, we invoke Thy blessing upon this com-
pact of love which we are about to celebrate between
two of Thy children. May the occasion be the be-
ginning of a new epoch in the advancement of hm
manity upon the earth, and may the declarations now
uttered inspire all hearers to grander conceptions of
love and devotion, to a higher expression of morality
and to a closer communion with Thyself as ex pressed
in all of the beneficent processes of Nature."

382 LOMA,

As Loma ceased his invocation, the organ strains
closed in a thrilling tremolo, and the audience waited
in silent awe for the rest of the ceremony. At a sig-
nal from Loma, Mr. McDonald and Mrs. Bell turned
and faced the audience. Loma addressed the as-
semblage as follows:

"Dearly beloved, you see before you the representa-
tives of the present and the coming civilization, at-
tired in colors which fittingly portray the conditions
existing in each. The civilization of the present is
wholly represented by man, and in it woman has no
part. In this civilization she is regarded as the chat-
tel and slave of man; by him degraded to the lowest
uses, and ministering to his passions to the destruction
of herself and the race. Blackness and darkness, the
suggestive conditions of this unhappy state of death,
are considered by you appropriate for your highest
festivities. Behold in woman, attired in garments of
brightness and purity, the harbinger of the exalted
state toward which you are advancing and which you
will ultimately reach. In this sublime ceremonial the
civilization of the present must deliver to woman her
freedom, that she may stand erect in her independence
and strength to dispose of her favors of love according
. to the dictates of her own volition.''

As Loma spoke the last sentence of this address,
Mr. McDonald, who had been standing near Myrtle
with his hand clasping hers, while she leaned upon his
shoulder, released his hold and stepped back three

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 383

paces. Myrtle remained standing facing Loma, who re-
sumed:

"In the new type of civilization the sweet influences
of woman must have an equal value with those of
man. She will impress her sons with her goodness
as man will impress his daughters with his strength,
and the combined excellencies of both uniting in im-
proved offspring will fill the earth with a humanity
which will be complete."

At this point Mrs. Bell, wTho had been standing with
her hand clasping that of her son, led him three paces
forward where he stood opposite Myrtle, released his
hand, and stepped back to her original position, where
she remained standing in calm but regal dignity. Doc-
tor Bell faced Loma on a line with Myrtle, standing
about three feet from her on the right.

Loma, glowing with an exquisite emanation of mag-
netism, addressed Myrtle first:

"Beloved daughter, hast thou in the exercise of thy
intelligence, without undue influence, coercion or fear,
and in the full possession of knowledge of what is im-
plied in the sacred relationship of consorts, discov-
ered the one who is able to satisfy the yearnings of
thy nature, and to whom thou art drawn in ties of
complete respect, admiration and love?"

To which Myrtle responded in a clear, sweet voice,
"I have."

'Art thou conscious of intense emotions of love and
devoted affection toward this man, and art thou fully
persuaded that the close and intimate association of

384 LOMA,

the higher expressions of love will be a source of per-
petual enjoyment, satisfaction and profit to thee, so
that thou wilt be sure to desire its continuance?"

"I am."

"Hast thou tested thyself and him to a sufficient
degree that thou art satisfied that ye are both sincere
in your professions of love, and dost thou believe that
ye are adapted to each other in the possession of those
elements of character that are necessary to each other's
happiness and the perfection of offspring?"

"I have tested both myself and him, and I believe
that we are not only capable of promoting each other's
happiness, but are essential to it, and that the elements
of complete parentage will be represented in our
union," responded Myrtle.

Loma addressed the same questions to Doctor Bell,
and received the same answers in a clear, firm voice.
He then took the doctor's right hand in his left and
Myrtle's right hand in his right, and joining them,
propounded the following question:

"Do you, in obedience to the laws of the state, de-
clare in the presence of these witnesses, that you take
each other as husband and wife; and in obedience to
the higher laws of Nature, that you take each other
into the higher, holier and grander relationship of
consorts, for mutual love, protection and enjoyment;
and for the advancement of the interests of humanity."

To which both of the contracting parties responded
simultaneously:

"I do."

A CITIZEN OF VENDS. 385

"Then," said Loma, "by virtue of the authority of

the laws of the State of Illinois, 1 pronounce you hus-
band and wife. And in the name of humanity and its
most sacred interests I require of each of you, your
declaration of the relationship of consorts and its
higher and holier implications."

As Loma concluded the last sentence the organ be-
gan a sweet, low strain, which blended with the music
of Myrtle's voice as she clasped the doctor's right hand
in her own and recited the following declaration with
faultless elocution:

"/, Myrtle BurrihUm, take thee, Edward Bell, as my ex-
alted and holy consort. I declare that I lore thee, that f
admire and respect thee, that thou dost satisfy the //earn-
ings of my nature, and that 1 will, in consideration of thy
lore and devotion expressed toward me, present myself to
thee daily in the most lovable and companionable aspect
of which T am capable. I declare that, to the utmost of
my ability, I will promote and protect thy happiness, thy
welfare and thy health. I concede to thee full liberty of
thought, speech and action. T will render unto thee honor
and lore as thou deserrest both, and in every reasonable
and correct manner endearor to develop, to win and to
keep thy love and res/wet. I declare that I will live with
thee according to the laws of Nature, and should it appear
at any time that my companionship is injurious to thy
welfare, thy health or thy advancement to a higher /dune
of life, T will voluntarily remove myself from thee, and
giving thee complete liberty, will endeavor still to promote
thy welfare by evevy means in my power."

386 LOMA,

As Myrtle finished this declaration she raised her
face toward the doctor, who encircled her with his
arm and imprinted a loving kiss upon her lips. Then
clasping her right hand in his own, the doctor ad-
dressed her in a similar manner:

"I, Edward Bell, take thee, Myrtle Burnham, as my ex-
alted and holy consort. I declare that I love thee, that I
admire and respect thee, that thou dost satisfy the yearn-
ings of my nature, and that I will, in consideration of thy
love and devotion expressed toward me, present myself to
thee daily in the most lovable and companionable aspect
of which I am capable. I declare that, to the utmost of
my ability, I will promote and protect thy happiness, thy
welfare and thy health. I concede to thee full liberty of
thought, speech and action. I will render unto thee honor
and love as thou deservest both, and in every reasonable
and correct manner endeavor to develop, to win and to
keep thy love and respect. I declare that I will live with
thee according to the laics of Nature, and should it appear
at any time that my companionship is injurious to thy
welfare, thy health or thy advancement to a higher plane
of life, I will voluntarily remove myself from thee, and
giving thee complete liberty, will endeavor still to promote
thy welfare by every means in my power."

As the doctor finished his declaration Myrtle em-
braced and kissed him, while Loma advancing placed
upon the third finger of the left hand of each a mag-
nificent diamond ring, each bearing a device enclosing
two beautiful gems, encircled by a golden band, say-
ing:

A CITIZEN OF VENTS.

387

"Beloved children of Nature, receive the insignia of
the exalted and holy state of loving, devoted and nat-
ural consorts."

Then raising his hands above them in benediction,
he exclaimed :

"May all good influences surround and bless you.
May Nature's highest, sweetest and holiest pleasures
be yours, and may the fruit of your union be the be-
ginning of a new race of exalted types of humanity
who shall bless the world they inhabit and minister
constantly to their own happiness and advancement.
Id the Dame of the higher civilization, I pronounce you
accepted and devoted cODSorts in purity and love."

Loma coDcluded this sublime ceremony by imprint-
ing a paternal kiss upon the brow of each. He was
followed by Mrs. Bell, who embraced first Myrtle and
theo the doctor in her maternal congratulations. Mr.
McDonald followed, and then the Associated Philoso-
phers. \Yhile the organ pealed sublime and inspiring
strains the invited guests, who had all been deeply
affected by the splendid exhibition of Lorna's powers
and not less by the sublime implications of the decla-
rations of the consorts, pressed forward to overwhelm
the happy couple with every demonstration of affec-
tion and enthusiasm. Even Mrs. McDonald, narrow
and bigoted as she was, shared the enthusiasm of the
moment, and shed tears as she received from Myrtle's
lips a kiss which expressed so much of forgiveness and
goodness that she could not be insensible to its angelic
sweetness.

388 LOMA,

The reception continued for three hours, during
which time an excellent orchestra discoursed sweet
music. A superb menu was served in the dining room,
in which function the doctor's steward distinguished
himself, and every guest was made to feel the genuine-
ness and excellence of the hospitality dispensed.

When the last guest had departed, and Myrtle and
the doctor were once more at ease with Loma and
Mrs. Bell, Loma said, as he bent over the cradle and
impressed a kiss upon the brow of the sleeping babe,
which during the exciting events of the afternoon had
been under the faithful guardianship of the devoted
Nora:

"Beloved, it is now time for you to congratulate me.
My mission to earth is finished, and all that remains
is for me to return to my native planet, where my be-
loved consort is anxiously awaiting the successful con-
summation of my journey, to enjoy the felicity of see-
ing me enrolled in the Academy of Heroes."

This announcement would have been received by the
friends with sorrow had it not been for two facts
which prevented, it. In the time he had associated
with them Loma had succeeded in instilling into their
minds so much of the principles of equity that selfish-
ness was destroyed, and they rejoiced exceedingly in
what they knew to be a source of supreme joy to their
instructor and lover. Moreover, Loma had assured
them that the perfection of their clairvoyant sense
would enable them to hold communication with him
occasionally, and he explained that Jesus had taught

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 389

the same art to his disciples, and that it was the first
exercise of this power which produced the remarkable
occurrences of the day of Fentecost, as recorded in the
second chapter of the Acts of the Apostles. The
knowledge of this fact was a great comfort to the
friends as the time of Loma's departure drew near;
but even if the prospect of this sweet privilege had
been denied them they could not have exhibited selfish-
ness enough to have desired to detain him longer from
the joys that awaited him on his return to Venus.

Loma. had instructed them partially as to the re-
quirements of his preparation for the journey, and il
was therefore no surprise when he announced that he
would take the train for Denver, Colorado, on the fol-
lowing morning, and that he desired the doctor and
Myrtle as well as Mrs. Bell to accompany him. Prep-
arations were immediately made for the journey, and
Nora was included in the party, as it was impossible
to separate Myrtle from her offspring at this time, and
no one was deemed to be as capable of filling the duties
of maid and nurse as she. Nora was delighted with
the prospect of the journey when it was announced
to her, and after the simple preparations were made
for the trip and tickets and berths were secured, the
family retired to rest, to gain strength for the responsi-
bilities of the morrow.

The relations of Doctor Bell and Myrtle remained
practically unchanged. Both were aware that at least
ninety days must elapse between the birth of Myrtle's
offspring and the beginning of any sexual relations.

390 L0MA>

Their previous association bad been as intimate as it
could be short of this degree, and the ceremony of con-
sorting had simply made their relations permanent.
Loma had imparted to them in a special instruction a
complete knowledge of the exalted and perfect way in
which the sexual relations were performed upon Venus,
and they awaited the arrival of the proper time with
calmness and the full consciousness that when it did
arrive they would experience the highest joys of
which their natures were capable. They were espe-
cially interested in the instruction imparted by Loma
as to the manner in which the number and sex of off-
spring were regulated, and the uses of sexual inter-
course in the strengthening and fortifying of every
part of the brain. The doctor had, long before Loma's
advent upon the earth, taught his patients that the
prevailing habit of man and wife occupying the same
bed was injurious to health and destructive of connu-
bial happiness. Consequently, upon this wedding
night, the beginning of a new civilization, fraught
with tremendous consequences of good to the human
race, the bride and groom retired to separate apart-
ments, and rested in the negative recuperation of their
energies, in the simple consciousness of complete hap-
piness in the present and the hope of an exquisite
realization of joy in the future.

CHAPTER XXIV.

THE ASCENSION.

"And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld.
He was taken up and a cloud received Him out of their sight"

The journey of Loma and his devoted friends from
Chicago to Denver was accomplished without special
incident. The party enjoyed the trip as they did
everything else, in the association of congenial person-
alities, and, as Loma remarked, so perfect was their
harmony that he would have frequently forgotten that
he was not already in Venus, if the incongruities of the
strangers with whom he came in contact did not
forcibly remind him that he was still on earth.

"But," he exclaimed enthusiastically, as he caressed
the baby to which he was as much devoted as its
mother, "this glorious boy will soon teach the world
a better way. These plebeian crowds who throng the
stations we pass, burdened with afflictions which they
are deluded into regarding as natural, little realize the
nature or the potentialities of this sweet babe who has
come to lead them into a higher civilization. But it
will come to pass, and future generations will bless
the work we have inaugurated."

When the party arrived in Denver they proceeded
at once to the Brown Palace Hotel, where elegant

(391)

392 LOMA,

apartments had been engaged. Loma had explained
that the preparations which were being made for his
transit to Venus were about perfected, but that the
distinguished electricians having the matter in charge
were desirous of making several tests, so as to insure
his safety, and it was probable that they might be de-
layed several days, in order to secure the exact condi-
tions required for so long a. transit.

Doctor Bell was much interested in the scientific
nature of the process of translation, and begged Loma
to impart to him as much of the process as would be
consistent with his professional and scientific ethics.
Loma smilingly assented.

"There is nothing mysterious about the process of
translation, and nothing that I am required to conceal
from you now, since you have been instructed in the
principles of complete education. The ability to sus-
tain such a translation is merely a question of the
power of a complete and educated brain to generate a
sufficient quantity of magnetism to sustain itself
against the drawing power of the electrical receptivity
of the earth's sphere. How to overcome the attraction
of gravitation has been the greatest problem with
which your scientists have grappled, but they will not
solve it until they develop complete brains. Then
they will find it very easy to walk on the water as
Jesus did, and as Peter could have done if he had had
a better brain. You will remember that when Peter
began to sink, Jesus caught him by the hand, after
which he had no difficulty because the magnetism de

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 393

veloped by the complete brain of Jesus was sufficient
for both when the connection was established.

"Now, the repulsion of magnetism being sufficient to
sustain Jesus and Peter upon the water, you can readily
understand that if the power of repulsion can be suffi-
ciently increased it would sustain them in the air, or
in interstellar space. It is this repulsion of magnet-
ism which enables your spiritualistic mediums to de-
velop the weak phenomena of table tipping, etc. Now,
it is simply this principle we use in translation from
Venus to the earth or from the earth to Venus. The
body translated must have sufficient power to generate
magnetism at will sufficient to repel it from the earth
and other planets, and to decrease this magnetism as it
approaches its destination so as to permit the force of
electrical receptivity to draw it, and yet retain suffi-
cient magnetism to exert resistance enough to prevent
a violent fall. This requires education and training,
as does every other form of athletic exercise.

"To initiate a transit it is best to start from a high
altitude, as the rarer the atmosphere the less resistance
we encounter, and we are also aided by the earth's mag-
netism, which is constantly being radiated from the
summits of mountains. This is why Jesus took the
disciples who were privileged to witness his ascension
upon a mountain, as related in the Bible, and we
have come to Colorado for the same reason. To finish
a transit it is best to choose a location having a low
altitude, a dense atmosphere and a large body of fresh
water, into which the body can finally land, as these

394 LOMA,

conditions furnish a natural cushion, and aid us in es-
tablishing resistance sufficient to prevent a violent con-
cussion. These conditions were admirably met in Lake
Michigan, as you know. I have chosen Pike's Peak,
near this city, as the place of my exit from the earth be-
cause it is easily accessible, and the terminus of my
transit will be in Lake Marieno in Venus, which is only
one hundred and fifty miles from my residence, and
where my exalted consort and nearly all of my lovers,
sisters and brothers are already assembled, together
with some twenty-five thousand other interested per-
sons."

Loma's fine countenance glowed with enthusiasm as
he spoke of the welcome awaiting him, and his ardor
was not dampened when Myrtle threw her arms around
his neck and imprinted a passionate kiss upon his lips,
saying:

"Take that kiss to your glorious consort from the
daughter of earth whom you have so greatly blessed
by your mission. Tell her that next to you I love and
honor her, and I know that what inconvenience she has
suffered through your absence will be more than com-
pensated by the magnificent honors which await your
return."

"She has hardly suffered inconvenience," said Loma,
smiling, "for each night I have held communication
with her by means of clairvoyance in which we are both
adepts. In fact, much of the success of my mission has
been due to her splendid sustaining influences, and
when I return to Venus she will be duly honored for

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 395

her share in the work, as will also a large number of
persons who have assisted me; two of whom I hope to
have the pleasure of introducing to you before many

hours."

As Loma finished this statement a telegram was
handed to him by a bell boy. He opened it and read :

Manitou. Colorado, March 13, 1896.
Preparations complete. All ready for you to-morrow.
Weather indications perfect. Davenol.

"Good!" exclaimed Loma. "This is from Professor
Davenol, the finest electrician in Venus. He awaits us
at Manitou. We will depart at once and sleep to-night

iu Manitou."

A telegram was sent to Professor Davenol announ-
cing the time the party would arrive in Manitou, and in
a few hours the Denver & Rio Grande train bore Loma
and his friends to that celebrated watering place. At
that time of the year most of the hotels were closed,
and the cog-wheel railway made few trips to the sum-
mit of Pike's Peak, but when Loma and his party ar-
rived they were met at the depot by Professor Davenol
in person, who explained that he had perfected all
arrangements, and that after a good night's rest the
party would be taken to the summit on a special train.
Professor Davenol was, like Loma, a magnificent
specimen of manhood, and an example of complete edu-
cation. He differed from Loma in the fact thai he was
of somewhal darker complexion and did not speak the
English language as fluently. There was a peculiar
accenl in his pronunciation which was distinctly dif-

396 LOMA,

ferent from that of any foreigner Doctor Bell had ever
met, but he was, like Loma, a prince of gentlemen in
his social manners and general deportment.

After a delicious night's rest and an excellent break-
fast the party took seats in the special train which was
waiting to convey them to the summit, and in a short
time found themselves at the door of the old signal sta-
tion, where they were provided with excellent shelter
from the intense cold which prevailed at that altitude
at that season of the year.

Professor Davenol had arranged that the special
should return to Manitou and that the party should
be alone on the summit when the transit was initiated.
He had explained to the officials of the railway that
Doctor Bell and the two ladies would return without
himself and Loma, as he desired to avoid any suspicion
that might be caused by their absence on the return
trip. As the transaction was not expected to con-
sume more than a few hours, Nora and the baby had
been left at the hotel in Manitou. The special was to
return to the summit for Doctor Bell and the ladies
precisely at noon.

At precisely 10 o'clock A. M. on the 14th day of
March, the party arrived at the summit. At 10 :30 the
special was returning to Manitou, and the friends were
in possession of the situation.

Then occurred a succession of the most remarkable
phenomena ever exhibited upon the earth.

Professor Davenol and Loma divested themselves of
clothing as soon as the special disappeared around the

A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 397

curve of the mountain. Then the professor marked a
large granite boulder, about one hundred yards from the
signal station, and drew around this boulder a circle
one hundred yards in diameter, leaving the boulder
in the center. A rope was tightly stretched around
this circle, and the professor warned the members
of the little group not to come within it for twenty
minutes after his departure, as the results of a viola-
tion of this caution would probabhy be fatal.

When these preparations were completed Loma took
an affectionate leave of his friends, holding Myrtle
last, in a long, loving embrace. Then he stepped
lightly inside the circle, and joined the professor.

Just at this moment a third actor appeared upon
the scene. This was another man, evidently a citizen
of Venus, from his likeness to the others, but who ap-
peared, in a halo of magnetism, descending from space
above the summit. As he approached, Loma and the
professor began to glow with great fervor of mag-
netism, evidently for the purpose of aiding the ap-
proaching person to resist the force of gravitation. In
this they were perfectly successful, as the new comer
gracefully -approached the summit and alighted with-
out any greater shock than would be experienced in
stepping out of a carriage.

Loma and Professor Davenol decreased their mag-
netism for a moment, and, approaching the edge of the
circle, Loma said:

"Allow me to introduce my devoted brother, Pro-
fessor Loyalice. He is Professor Davenol's assistant,

398 L°MA-

and has just completed a transit over the route to in-
sure my safety and perfect working conditions. He
does not speak the language of earth, but he assures
me that everything is auspicious for my transit."

Doctor Bell and the ladies bowed, and Professor
Loyalice acknowledged this introduction with a grace-
ful gesture, after which Loma said :

"Farewell, beloved; but remember that I am always
with you in the sweet communion of the highest sense."

Then, as his body and those of his two associates
began to glow with incomparable brightness, he made
one of his exquisite gestures of gracious dignity and
love, smiled sweetly upon his three friends, who clung
to each other outside the circle in an ecstasy of intense
expectation, and began to rise.

His progress was rapid and with gradually accel-
erating velocity until he was lost to sight. Professor
Davenol and his assistant remained motionless, but
continued to glow with the greatest fervor for several
minutes. Then they relaxed the intensity of their
radiation, but remained immovable for several
minutes longer. Suddenly from the space above the
summit, with startling distinctness, came the sound
of Loma's voice, pure and musical as when he was
upon the earth, but having a peculiar quality in the
tone which betrayed the fact that it was sounding
through some form of telephone constructed upon a
stupendous scale:

"BELOVED, BE OF GOOD CHEER.- I HAVE SAFELY
ARRIVED AT HOME AND AM IN THE SWEET EM-
BRACES OF MY PRECIOUS CONSORT."

A CITIZEN OP VENUS. 399

Professor Davenol smiled and looked relieved. In
a moment he and Professor Loyalice began to glow
again with great intensity of magnetism, and Professor
Loyalice began to rise, and in a few moments disap-
peared as Loma had done. Again a moment of sus-
pense, and once more the telephonic sound was heard,
but this time it was a strange voice and in a language
unknown to Doctor Bell and the ladies. But Professor
Davenol seemed to be perfectly satisfied with results,
for he bowed and smiled, and, beginning once more to
glow with extraordinary fervor, rose majestically,
waving his hands to the three absorbed spectators. In
a moment he also had disappeared in the blue vault
of the heavens; but although the doctor and the two
ladies gazed and listened for several minutes in spell-
bound attention, no sound occurred. With the de-
parture of the last citizen of Venus the telephonic con-
nection had ceased to exist.

Doctor Bell, looking at the spot from which Professor
Davenol had departed, noticed that the boulder which
the professor had marked had disappeared, and ki its
place was a pool of molten lava, and the air was per-
meated with the odor of granite in a state of fusion.

Mrs. Bell and Myrtle, overcome with emotion, sobbed
upon the doctor's shoulders. The latter, however, had
been so absorbed in the contemplation of the majestic
scientific phenomena presented to his senses that he
could think of little else. But the emotions of
the ladies recalled him to the duties of the hour, and,
as he placed one arm around his queenly mother and

400 LOMA,

the other around his lovely consort and led them to-
ward the special train, which at that moment appeared
upon the side of the mountain, he felt that he was in-
deed upon the mountain top physically, intellectually
and socially.

THE END.

SCIENTIFIC PHRENOLOGY.

The author of this work sincerely believes that the
code of Gallheim announced by Loma, if conscientious-
ly followed, would result in a complete revolution of so-
cial conditions and a realization of the felicity which
he depicts as actually existing upon Venus. The first,
third, and fourth articles of the code will be readily
understood by advanced thinkers. But the success of
the code depends no less upon the second article, which
enforces the doctrine that by the adoption of a
correct system of character study, i. c, mental phi-
losophy, human nature can be understood and es-
timated at its correct value.

The system of mental philosophy inaugurated by
Francis Joseph Gall, M. D., in Vienna, in 178G~7, elab-
orated by his pupil John Gasper Spurzheim, and later
students, including the author, presents the foundation
for such a system. It is still in its infancy, but it fur-
nishes a more practical method for the study and de-
termination of the elements of human character than
any system of mental philosophy ever promulgated.
The pure doctrines taught by Gall and Spurzheim
luivc suffered much at the hands of charlatans, quacks,
and pseudo-scientists, so much as to be the subject of
great ridicule by the misinformed. It has suffered
hardly less at the hands of its ignorant and bigoted

26 (401)

402 PHRENOLOGY.

friends, who have sought to make the doctrine of the
new science conform to existing standards of morals
and religion.

Believing that the present work would arouse an in-
terest in the science, the author has considered it wise
to append a brief statement of its leading principles
and doctrines, as much for the purpose of educating
the reader to a comprehension that Phrenology is not
what it is usually represented to be, as for the addi-
tional purpose of creating an interest for its more
comprehensive and exhaustive study. At best, such
a treatise can only consist of brief statements of prin-
ciples and definitions. These are given as they are ap-
plied by the author in his professional practice.

DEFINITIONS.

Phrenology is the science of Intelligence. It is a
system of mental philosophy based upon accurate ob-
servation and comparison of the origin, structure, and
manifestations of intelligent organisms.

As a science, Phrenology deals with the causes and
effects of Intelligence. As an art, it consists in estimat-
ing the kind and amount of Intelligence manifested by
any organism.

Intelligence is the power or capacity of any living
organism to take cognizance of the facts of its environ-
ment. The amount and kind of Intelligence depends
on the structure and development of the organism, and

PHRENOLOGY. 403

these are always the product of the environment of the

organism and that of its ancestors.

All things whatsoever are included in existence.

Existence is composed of two prime, ungenerated
potentialities, Space and Matter.

Space is unlimited, continuous, persistent, and im-
movable. It is the prime, ungenerated negative female
parent of all that is.

Matter is limited, divisible, consistent, and movable.
It is the prime, ungenerated, positive male parent of all
that is.

By virtue of the inherent genderic degrees of state
with which Space and Matter are endowed, like de-
grees of genitive passion are continuously generated
between them.

Electricity is the genitive passion of Space. It is
manifested by the states of gravity, receptivity, cold-
ness, and darkness.

Magnetism is the genitive passion of Matter. It is
manifested by the states of vibration, radiation, heat,
and light.

The eternal affinities which exist between these con-
ditions produce all the phenomena of growth.

Growth is the change which takes [dace in a struc-
ture in obedience to the law of conformity to the
changes which take place in its environment.

All objects are the product of Growth. This is as
true of stars and planets, mountains and rivers, as il is
of vegetables and animals. All things originate from
ancestors, increase by nourishment, and disintegrate
by depletion.

404 PHRENO LOG"i .

All substances are composed of molecules, which are
the smallest possible divisions of substances. All
molecules are composed of atoms, which are the
smallest possible divisions of matter. The difference
in substances is due to the difference in the composi-
tion of the molecules. The difference in molecules is
due to the different forms of association of which atoms
are capable.

Every individual atom is capable of conforming to its
environment in states of electricity and magnetism.
When magnetism dominates in the environment, the
atom vibrates and radiates its own magnetism. When
electricity dominates in the environment the atom be-
comes composed and contracts its magnetism. Asso-
ciated atoms repel each other when vibratory and radi-
ant, and cohere when composed and receptive.

These principles explain the expansion and contrac-
tion of matter in different states of temperature, i. e.,
of electricity and magnetism.

All changes in the conditions of space and matter
are due to changes in conditions of electricity and
magnetism. Therefore all changes in the environment
of any object are attributable to the same great causes.
The inherent, property of atoms to conform to condi-
tions of environment as to states of electricity and
magnetism causes all associated atoms to behave ac-
cording to the needs of the association, whatever it
may be. Therefore every body changes according to the
movements of the atoms composing it, and these

PHRENOLOGY. 405

changes are always in conformity to the changing
nature of the environment.

Organisms are therefore simple or complex, accord-
ing to the simple or complex nature of their structure
and the simple or complex conditions of the environ-
ment with which they are brought into contact.

Man is the most complex organism known to this
planet. He stands at the end of a long line of de-
velopment, extending from the simplest form of min-
eral, through the vegetable and animal kingdoms, to
his own position in the cosmos, and embracing and in-
cluding in his own structure a representation of evnV
form below him. But when this exceedingly complex
structure is analyzed it is found to consist wholly of
combinations of the simpler forms which existed before
him.

In the light of a rational philosophy, therefore, we
are forced to consider man as a creature of growth, and
subject to exactly the same natural laws as the objects
which surround him. Any attempt to regard him as
an exception results in the calamities which must al-
ways attend presumption and ignorance.

The Intelligence of Man is his power to comprehend
the conditions of his environment. The relative de-
gree of this intelligence which any individual will
possess depends upon the completeness and the com-
plexity of his structure. The intelligence of the man
is the aggregation of the power of his associated atoms.
If there is any part of his organization incomplete, in
its perfect relation to his environment, his structure

406

PHRENOLOGY.

lacks the requisite complexity of parts and a loss of
intelligence is the result.

The Conditions of Enyironment can only be im-
pressed upon an organism by the impacts of the vari-
ous magnetisms of the surrounding objects constitut-
ing the environment. These impacts will make them-
selves felt by a variety of radiations and vibrations of
magnetism, differing in intensity and rapidity, cor-
responding to the conditions of the bodies from which
they emanate. If the organism upon which these
radiations and vibrations impinge is susceptible to cor-
responding receptivity and similar vibrations, the con-
ditions of the surrounding bodies will be communicated
to it and it will respond to each with a corresponding
state of vibration. This corresponding state of re-
ceptivity and vibration constitutes sensibility.

An organism develops degrees of intelligence accord-
ing to its sensibility to some or all of the conditions of
its environment. As these conditions are manifested
by vibrations of lower and higher rapidity, organisms
are provided with Organs of Sense, and corresponding
Senses, according to the degree of intelligence devel-
oped. Each organ of sense comprehends a different
stage of receptivity and vibration, and each stage is
susceptible to different degrees. The stages cor-
respond to the different senses and the degrees cor-
respond to the different sensations experienced within
the domain of each sense.

Man has Seven Senses, to-wit, Gender, Touch,
Taste, Hearing, Sight Smell, and Clairvoyance. He is

PHRENOLOGY. 407

provided with corresponding organs of sense, but the
sexual organs of gender have been ignored, and 1 lit*
organs of Clairvoyance within the brain are not visible
externally and have not been located, but we know
the^y exist.

The Sense of Gender corresponds to the lowest
stage of radiation and vibration. The sexual organs
are attuned to these radiations and vibrations with a
corresponding stage of receptivity and susceptibility
to vibration, and communicate their sensations to cor-
responding organs of the brain.

The Sense of Touch takes cognizance of the next
higher stage of radiation and vibration, and communi-
cates its sensations to the brain in a similar manner,
through the skin, and especially that of the hands and
feet.

The Sense of Taste takes cognizance of the third
stage of radiation and vibration, through the lips,
tongue, and palate.

The Sense of Hearing enables the individual to
comprehend the radiations and vibrations which exist
in the fourth stage, and ears are provided for this pur-
pose attuned only to the vibrations of this stage.

The Sense of Sight receives the radiations and vi-
brations of the fifth stage, and the exquisitely sensi-
tive machinery of the eyes is beautifully adapted to
the purpose.

The Sense of Smell, through the nostrils, receives
impressions pertaining to the sixth stage which are
more delicate than those of sight

408 PHRENOLOGY.

The Sense of Clairvoyance receives impressions of
radiations and vibrations so intensely penetrating and
exquisitely refined that they pass through all known
substances, and for this reason the organs of this sense
are contained within the skull, which forms no barrier
to its operation. This is the highest form of sensibility,
and completes the octave. Any sense beyond this
must needs be the beginning of a new organization, and
would be a repetition of the sense of gender as the
foundation of a new octave, precisely as musical tones
are repeated in the chromatic scale. This law applies
throughout nature.

It will be noticed that the arrangement of the senses
in this order corresponds to the position of the relative
arrangement of the organs of sense on the body.

The olfactory nerves enter the skull at a point above
the eyes and communicate their impressions to a
higher point of the brain than the optic nerves. Hence
although the external orifices of the nostrils are below
the eyes, the real arrangement of the organs of sense
is in the order above stated.

An organization may be perfectly adapted to its
environment by growth, but if violently removed to an-
other situation it may be very incompletely adapted to
its new environment, in which case it will either per-
ish, or become slowly adapted to it by growth, possibly
extending through many generations.

Experience teaches us that the greatest happiness
is secured by comprehending the nature of the in-
dividual and by placing him where he can have the

PHRENOLOGY. 409

most favorable environment for the largest possible
growl li.

Recognizing the foregoing definitions and principles,
the analysis of the character of man considered ab-
stractly, or the analysis of the character of the con-
crete individual, proceeds upon strictly scientific lines,
as follows: As man is a complex organism, consisting
of bones, muscles, respiratory, digestive, and cir-
culatory organs, brain and nerves, all of which are sub-
ject to varying conditions, the practical phrenologist
in his estimate of the character must consider carefully
(he Physiological Condition, Temperament, Organic
Quality, and Size and Development of Brain. These
subjects will be considered in their order.

PHYSIOLOGICAL CONDITION.

If the individual is supplied with strong vital organs,
supported by an adequate frame of bone and muscle,
and these are all in good working order, he is said to
be in a condition of health. Under this head the phre-
nologist makes a careful note of the conditions of gen-
eral health, personal appearance, breathing power, cir-
culation, and digestion. The eccentricities of disease
arc carefully noted and allowance made therefor in the
estimate of mental power. The use of tobacco, alco-
holic liquors, narcotics, tea, coffee, or other stimulants
or poisons, in any degree, is incompatible with normal
intelligence. If normal health exists and the in-
dividual is supplied with a good equipment in all of

410 PHRENOLOGY.

the physiological conditions of organization, the founda-
tion is established for the display of intelligence. The
amount of intelligence depends upon the general mag-
nitude of the organization and the perfect correlation
of its parts. The particular kind of intelligence mani-
fested will be greatly modified by the form of the body
and brain as expressed in Temperament, Organic Qual-
ity and Size and Development of Brain.

THE TEMPERAMENTS.

Temperament is that peculiar state of the body, ex-
pressed in color, temperature, form, and proportion,
which results from the preponderance of some element
in the constitution, over some other element or ele-
ments. The Temperaments are classified with refer-
ence to electro-magnetic, anatomical, and chemical con-
ditions.

ELECTRO-MAGNETIC TEMPERAMENTS.

The Electric Temperament exists when electricity
dominates over magnetism in the organization. Its
characteristics are Gravity, Receptivity, Darkness, and
Coldness. This temperament was formerly called the
Bilious or Brunette Temperament. It is dis-
tinguished by dark, hard, dry skin, dark, strong hair,
dark eyes, olive complexion, and usually by a long,
athletic form of body. It is remarkable for concentra-
tiveness of design and affections, strong gravity, draw-

PHREXOLOGY. 4U

ing power and cohesiveness, strong will, resolution,
dignity, serious disposition and expression, moderate
circulation and coolness of temperature. It is pro-
duced by a dry, hot climate, common in southern lat-
itudes and almost universal in tropical natives. Per-
sons of this temperament are better adapted to hot
climates because electricity dominates over magnetism,
and they do not antagonize the climate by the radiation
of magnetism, but rather thrive on the magnetism which
they absorb. This temperament is closely analogous
to the condition of tropical animals and birds.

The Magnetic Temperament exists when magnet-
ism dominates over electricity in the organiza-
tion. Its characteristics are Vibration, Radia-
tion, Heat, and Light. This temperament was
formerly called the Sanguine or Blonde Temperament.
It is distinguished by a light colored, warm, moist skin,
light colored or red hair, fresh ruddy or florid complex-
ion, light colored or blue eyes, rounded form of body,
often plump or corpulent, large chest, square shoulders,
indicating a very active heart and vital organs. It
is remarkable for versatility of character, jovial dis-
position, fond of good living and great variety, change-
ableness, activity, and vivaciousness. The temperature
of the body is warm and the circulation very strong.
This temperament vibrates between great extremes of
disposition, develops great, force of radiation and driv-
ing power, and is universally characterized by warmth,
enthusiasm, and high color. It is produced by the
climates of northern and temperate latitudes, and is al-

412 PHRENOLOGY.

most universal in the natives of extreme northern coun-
tries. Persons of this temperament are better adapted
to cold climates, because magnetism dominates over
electricity, consequently they produce more animal
heat, and are better able to endure the rigors of a cold
climate. The same general conditions are found to ex-
ist in birds and animals inhabiting northern latitudes.

ANATOMICAL TEMPERAMENTS.

The Temperaments are also classed anatomically as:

Motive, where the bones are large and strong and
the muscular development is stronger than the nutri-
tive or mental system. Persons of this temperament arc
active, energetic, and best adapted to outdoor pursuits
and vigorous employment.

Vital, in which the nutritive or vital system is most
active, large lungs, stomach and blood vessels, and
corpulent and plump figure. Persons possessing this
temperament are inclined to sedentary occupations,
and if the brain is large and of good quality, are able
to do an immense amount of mental labor without
breaking down. They should take systematic exercise
and avoid fats and stimulating foods and drinks to ob-
tain the best results.

Mental, in which the brain and nerves are most
active. The body is not adapted to hard muscular
labor, and there is not enough vitality or nutritive
power to nourish the brain in the heavy demands made
upon it. Such persons incline to mental effort and

PHRENOLOGY. 4! 3

literary work, and for a time display greal brilliancy,
but sooner or later collapse, unless this condition is
corrected, by regular hours, plenty of sleep, the absence

of stimulants and the cultivation of muscular and vital
force. This temperament is distinguished by a rela-
tively large head and small body, pyriform face, high
wide forehead, and usually sharp features.

CHEMICAL TEMPERAMENTS.

There are three principal fluids which circulate
through the body, viz., arterial blood, venous blood, and
lymph. As the blood passes out from the heart
through the arteries it is strongly charged with
magnetism and is very strongly acid in quality.
As it returns to the heart through the veins
it has expended its magnetism and its acid-
ity has been very much neutralized. The lymph
is an alkali fluid, and it circulates through the
lymphatic vessels as a reserve force of vital food. The
predominance of either of these fluids in the constitu-
tion greatly modifies the character and gives rise to
the classification of the chemical temperaments. As
every cell in the body comes in contact with an acid and
an alkali fluid, we may, by estimating the relative quan-
tities of each fluid, arrive at a very accurate judgment
of the chemical condition of the body, and these ele-
ments are also valuable in estimating the amount of
magnetism that will be produced by the organization
through chemical action, as every cell by its contact
with these fluids is constituted a magnetic battery.

414

PHRENOLOGY.

THE ACID TEMPERAMENT.

The Acid Temperament exists where arterial blood
predominates. It is distinguished by convexity of
features and sharpness of angles. The face is usually
round in general outline and convex in profile, the fore-
head prominent at the eyebrows and retreating as it
rises, the nose Roman, the mouth prominent, the teeth
convex in form and arrangement and sharp, the chin
round and sometimes retreating. The body is angular
and generally convex in outline, with sharpness at all
angles. This temperament is usually accompanied
with great activity of mind and vivaciousness of dis-
position, and sometimes develops great energy and
asperity. It is very likely to exhaust itself prema-
turely.

PHRENOLOGY.

415

THE ALKALI TEMPERAMENT.

The Alkali Temperament exists where lymph is in
excess over arterial blood. It is distinguished by con-
cavity of features and obliquity of angles, or rather the
absence of angles. The face is usually broad in gen-
eral outline, and concave in profile, the forehead prom-
inent and wide at the upper part, and medium in de-
velopment at the eyebrows, the nose concave, the
mouth retreating, the teeth flat in form and arrange-
ment, the chin concave and prominent at the point.
The body is round and inclined to corpulency, without
angles. This temperament is usually well stocked with
vitality, but unless actively employed is likely to be-
come dull and overloaded with adipose tissue and
lymph.

416 PHRENOLOGY.

From the foregoing observations it is evident that
the temperaments combine in each individual accord-
ing to whichever temperament is found to predominate
in these three divisions. Thus one man will have an
electric-motive-acid temperament, another a magnetic-
mental-acid temperament, another a niagnetic-vital-
alkali, and so on through all the combinations which
can be made from the seven elementary temperaments.
This blending when finally estimated constitutes the
temperament of the individual. The ideal condition
would, of course, be a perfect equilibrium of the ele-
ments of each division, in which case the individual
would be said to have a perfectly balanced tempera-
ment.

III. ORGANIC QUALITY.

Organic Quality is the inherent, constitutional tex-
ture of the organization. It is analogous to the grain
of wood, the temper of mental, etc., and is considered
with reference to the attributes of Strength, Delicacy,
and Responsiveness.

Strength signifies great capacity to undertake and
successfully complete enterprises of great magnitude,
requiring comprehensive thought and executive power.
It also signifies great power of endurance and fortitude.
When strength is marked low, on the phrenological
chart, the individual has no surplus strength to waste
and should carefully enconomize force and direct his
power within the scope of his phrenological adaptation.

PHRENOLOGY. 417

Delicacy indicates great refinement and sensitive-
ness of organization. Such persons are able to ap-
preciate nice shades of thought and to cultivate the
graces in an eminent degree. They are adapted to
pursuits requiring delicacy of the senses and acute
perception, such as music, painting, manufacturing of
delicate articles, etc. In literature they display re-
fined taste, and the head is symmetrical and generally
well developed. Those who are low in delicacy lack
refinement and grace and should carefully cultivate
these qualities.

Responsiveness signifies that peculiar quality of or-
ganization which takes impressions readily and re-
sponds quickly to outside influences. It implies abil-
ity to learn readily and to adopt one's self to circum-
stances. Persons high in this quality are easily
elated and correspondingly depressed, and should culti-
vate self-control. Persons low in responsiveness in-
cline toward stupidity.

SIZE AND DEVELOPMENT OF BRAIN.

The Physiological Condition, Temperament and
Quality of the individual being established, the size of
his brain becomes the measure of power. Concerning
the brain, the doctrines of Phrenology may be briefly
stated.

I. The brain is the keyboard of Intelligence. The
Intelligence of man manifests itself through many fac-
ulties, and each faculty is a result of some condition

27

418 PHRENOLOGY.

pertaining to his environment. Each faculty has a
special organ in the brain.

II. Size of brain is the measure of power, tempera-
ment, quality and physiological condition being similar.
Size of brain depends upon length of brain fiber. The
brains of different individuals vary much in size and
also in the direction of development, from which fact
diversity of character arises, in brains of the same size
and quality.

III. Forty-three organs of the brain, by careful ob-
servation and comparison, have been located and
classified. The brain is divided into two hemispheres,
and one organ pertaining to each faculty of the mind
located in each hemisphere. Thus all organs are double,
and there is one organ of each pair on each side of the
head. The Phrenologist estimates the size of each or-
gan by measuring the length of brain fiber from the
surface of the brain to the Medulla Oblongata, which is
at the base of the brain, at the head of the spinal col-
umn and opposite the opening of the ears.

We have reason to believe that there are sixty-four
organs altogether, and that when ajl are discovered
and classified that man will be found to possess sixty-
four distinct faculties and be capable of acquiring
sixty-four different kinds of knowledge and manifest-
ing sixty-four kinds of intelligence. This is not stated
as a demonstrated fact, but as a proposition believed
to be true.

The following are the names and definitions of the
faculties of Intelligence that are known to be possessed

PHRENOLOGY. 419

by man. For the location of the corresponding organs
on the cranium the reader is referred to the accom-
panying Symbolical Phrenological Head. On this head
the faculties are symbolized by a picture engraved
within the territory ascribed to each organ represent-
ing some action of the corresponding faculty. Thus
Constructiveness is represented by a suspension bridge,
Combativeness by a fire scene in which the splendid
energies of the firemen and the apparatus are opposed
to the destructive element, etc.

For convenience in classification the organs are ar-
ranged in the six groups of Physical Love, Physical
Energy, Dignity, Sympathy, Objective Intellect, and
Subjective Intellect, but these divisions are purely ar-
bitrary.

Each of the faculties of Intelligence is capable of
manifesting four distinct powers, Attraction, Repul-
sion, Satisfaction, and Memory, depending upon cor-
responding electro-magnetic states of the atoms com-
posing the organ of the brain representing that faculty.

When electricity dominates the atoms cohere, the
brain cells become empty and Attraction results.

When magnetism dominates, the atoms repel, the
cells become filled with magnetism and Repulsion re-
sults.

When electro-inagnetic equilibrium is established,
the faculty is said to be in a state of Satisfaction, and
the organ is at rest.

The ability to rearrange the atoms and to repeat
formerly existing states, constitutes Memory.

420

PHRENOLOGY.

PROF. Wm. WINDSOR,
LL.B., Ph. D.

The Symbolical Phrenological Head, Showing the Location of the Organs

of the Brain.

PHRENOLOGY. 421

From the foregoing, we deduce the propositions that
Love (Attraction), Hate (Repulsion), Enjoyment (Satis-
faction), and Recollection (Memory) are each the prod-
uct of the combined action of the powers of all the or-
gans of the brain, and the force resulting from this
combination which ultimately governs the action of the
individual is called Reason.

Therefore, to constitute an individual perfectly Rea-
sonable, he must have a complete cognition of his en-
vironment by the possession of a complete equipment
of the organs of sense, and a complete brain, educated
to the full use of every faculty. Every organ of the
brain and every corresponding faculty is equally valu-
able, and none can be neglected in development or
education without an equally serious loss. The ideal
state of complete development and complete education
is attainable and will be reached by the human race
whenever this philosophy is accepted and enforced.

422

PHRENOLOGY.

GROUPS OF ORGANS.

DEFINITIONS OF THE FACULTIES
OF INTELLIGENCE.

PHYSICAL LOVE.

Amativcncss — Reproductive love; love of the opposite
sex, and desire to unite in sexual relations and enjoy
its company.

Conjugality — Conjugal love, sexual friendship and
fidelity.

Pliiloprogcnitivcncss — Parental love; love of offspring
and pets.

Friendship — Adhesiveness; gregariousness; love of
family; desire for companionship; attachment to
friends.

PHRENOLOGY. 433

fiiJiabiti rates* — Love of home, place of abode; love
of country and offensive and defensive patriotism.

Continuity — The faculty of connection. The ability
to comprehend continuousness or interruption; to give
undivided and continued attention to one subject, or
to interrupt intelligently; application, connectedness.

PHYSICAL ENERGY.

Vitativeness — The love of life; desire to exist.

Combativencss — Defense; courage; defiance; force of
character; energy and indignation.

Executw&ms— Executive ability ; extermination ;
thoroughness and severity.

AUmentiveness — Desire for food and drink; faculty of
discriminating taste.

Acquisitiveness — Desire for property; industry; econ-
omy in acquiring property; realization of value

Secretwene88 — Reserve; concealment; policy; con-
servatism.

Ca ution— Prudence; solicitude; timidity; fear; ap-
prehension of danger.

DIGNITY.

ApiJivbativdncss — Love of display; the desire to
please; ambition to gain admiration and popularity.

Self -Esteem — Dignity ; governing power ; independ-
ence; self love.

Firmness — Stability; perseverance; decision; inflex-
ibility of purpose.

434 PHRENOLOGY.

Conscientiousness — Justice; self-examination; integ-
rity; circumspection; scrupulousness in matters of
duty.

SYMPATHY.

Hope — Belief in future joy; tendency to high ex-
pectations.

Faith — Trust and belief. Confidence.

Veneration — Reverence and worship; deference for
superiors, and submission to superior power.

Benevolence — The desire to do good; sympathy; phi-
lanthropy.

Imitation — The copying faculty. The ability to con-
form to existing customs, conditions and facts by im-
itating them.

Human Nature — The power to discern motives, char-
acter and qualities in other persons by sympathetic ac-
tion.

Suavity — Agreeableness; tendency to speak and act
in a pleasant manner.

OBJECTIVE INTELLECT.

Individuality — Observation and desire to see things,
to identify and separate objects.

Form — Observation of the shape of things. Sensi-
tiveness to correctness or the lack of it in shapes.

Size — Power to measure distances, quantities and
sizes.

Weight — Perception of the effect of gravity, and
sense of the perpendicular.

PHRENOLOGY. 425

Color — The discrimination of lines and colors.

Order — Faculty of arrangement; method; system;
neatness.

Calculation — The power to count, enumerate, reckon,
etc.; faculty of number.

Motion — Ability to comprehend movement. Love of
motion, sailing, navigation, riding, dancing, etc.

Eventuality — The historic faculty; faculty of experi-
ence and occurrence.

Locality — Discernment of position, perception of
place.

Time — Consciousness of duration; faculty of time;
promptness.

Tune — Appreciation of sound; ability to distinguish
musical tones.

Construetireness — Dexterity and ingenuity; ability in
construction; faculty of adjustment.

Language — Power of expression and ability to talk;
verbal expression; vocabulary.

SUBJECTIVE INTELLECT.

Causality— The ability to comprehend principles, and
to think abstractly ; to understand the relation between
cause and effect.

Comparison— The analyzing, illustrating and com-
paring faculty.

Ideality— Love of the beautiful; desire for perfection,

refinement.

Sublimity— Love of grandeur and the stupendous;
appreciation of the terrific.

Mirthf ulness— Wit; humor; love of fun.

426 PHRENOLOGY.

The Phrenological Examination.

The Phrenological Examination is designed to show
in an accurate and scientific manner the size and de-
velopment of Brain of the person measured, and to
furnish a basis upon which an accurate and reliable
knowledge of the character may be determined. The
measurements can only be correctly made by an ex-
pert familiar with the principles of Phrenology. When
these measurements are determined according to the
system, the Phrenologist is enabled to make a Com-
plete Delineation of the character, describing the
amount and kind of sense possessed by the individual,
his adaptation to a particular Business, Trade or Pro-
fession, where that kind and amount of Intelligence is
required, the adaptation in Matrimony or Business
Partnership, together with special directions as to faults
and how to correct them, health and longevity and how
to secure both. The expert must be able to judge the
Physiological Condition, Temperament and Organic
Quality of the individual with scientific accuracy, and
these are important elements in a scientific delineation
of character.

Phrenological Examinations are said to be given
orally when no record is made of the conclusions of the
examiner. A Phrenological Chart is a blank prepared
for concise written statements, and the chart filled out
is said to constitute a Delineation of Character.

PHRENOLOGY.

427

PROF. WINDSOR'S ASSISTANTS MAKING A PHRENOMETRICAL SURVEY.

Phrenometrical Measurements are given by means of
1lu> Phroiomctcr, an instrument used for measuring the
head, by which the exact form and size of sections of
the head can be reproduced upon diagrams prepared for
the purpose. This is the most valuable and reliable
way of making an examination.

428 PHRENOLOGY.

A Phrenograph is a written description of the char-
acter of an individual, giving all the minute points and
shadings of character in the language of the examiner,
and its value depends upon the perspicuity and literary
expression of the writer not less than upon his skill as
a phrenologist.

It must be evident from the foregoing that the value
of the service rendered by the phrenologist varies, as in
all other professions, according to his education and
training, the instruments with which he works, the
elaborateness of the product and the adaptation of the
phrenologist to his own business.

The public should be warned against patronizing
men who practice Phrenology in a way that would
bring any business into ridicule. Men who are uned-
ucated, who do not use the latest and best equipments,
who have never had any professional training, who do
not comprehend professional ethics or dignity, and who
do not possess the elements of success in their own
characters, are hardly the ones to whom an intelligent
man would submit the most important questions con-
cerning his own welfare with the hope of receiving
competent advice. But Phrenology has been cursed
with this class of quacks, perhaps even more than the
profession of medicine. And it is largely due to the
stupendous blunders of such pretenders that Phre-
nology is not recognized more generally by intelligent
scientists. Considered in its beauty and simplicity, it
certainly offers a more rational and practical system of
mental philosophy than has ever been otherwise formu-
lated.

PHRENOLOGY.

429

EXAMPLES OF PHRENOMETRICAL MEASUREMENTS.

Fig. 2.

-ID

COMBATIVE.

NON-COMBATIVE.

Sections of base of brain, showing development of physical energy
The dotted lines in P^ig. 2 show the deiiciency in alimentiveness, execu-
tiveness and combativeness.

Fig. 3.

Fig. 4.

NON-SYMPATHETIC.

SYMPATHETIC.

Profile sections showing development of sympathy and dignity. The
dotted line in Fig. 3 shows deficiency in Human Nature and Benevolence.

Fig 6.

Fig.

MODERATE CAPACITY.

liHKAT CAPACITY.

Two sections of the region of subjective Intellect, showing different
capacities of two individuals.

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THE SCIENCE OF CREftTION

AND-

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A beautiful volume of four hundred pages, devoted to the
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SUBJECTS DISCUSSED IN SEPARATE CHAPTERS.

Introduction. I.— General Anatomy and Physiology. II.—
Sexual Anatomy and Physiology. III.— Manhood and Woman-
hood. IV.— Manhood not Lost. V— Manhood Restored. VI.—
The Education of the Sexual Instincts. VII.— Marriage. VIII.
—Sexual Magnetism. IX.— Prostitution. X. — The Selection of
the Consort. XI.— Copulation. XII.— Mistakes of Married
Men. XIII.— Reproduction. XIV.— Maternity. XV.— Con-
clusion.

This book discusses the foregonig subjects in a fearless and
candid manner, giving the information desired in a complete
and clear way, instead of darkly hinting at the topics.

It is also true that Professor Windsor teaches the doctrine
that the functions of the body in all of its departments should
be enjoyed in a legitimate and pure manner, instead of being
suppressed and paralyzed, as would be the case if the teach-
ings of a majority of writers on this subject were followed. It
is the aim of the book to teach what a legitimate and pure
enjoyment is. Like all of his writings, it is radical, revolution-
ary and independent.

It is fust the book which every young man and woman
should read who is anxious to obtain the best use of all the
powers of mind and body, and who wishes to enter the rela-
tionship of marriage well informed as to the duties, rights,
privileges and enjoyments of a husband and wife.

It is the very book which every intelligent parent has been
looking for, to have his children read in order that they may
be instructed against the vices, and encouraged to secure the
highest possible development.

It is time that men and women understood themselves and
each other. Professor Windsor has had the courage and in-
telligence to write and utter what should have been said long
ago. He believes in the dignity of manhood, the sacredness
of womanhood, the protection of childhood.

(3)

L0MA,

A CITIZEN OF VENUS.

The Most Sensalional Book Ever Published in the English
Language.

A scathing criticism on the civilization of the nineteenth
century, by a philosopher who understands Human Nature, its
capabilities, its needs and its wrongs.

The plot of this remarkable book is as follows: Myrtle
Burnham, a beautiful and talented young girl, living with a
wealthy uncle in Chicago, meets Avith misfortunes by which
she is disgraced in the eyes of her uncle and aunt and is by
them turned upon the street. After three days and nights of
privation and hardship, she attempts suicide in Lake Michigan.
She is rescued by a remarkable personage, who appears in the
water at the critical moment, and upon the pier she and her
rescuer meet a physician, who is also a philanthropist, who
mercifully takes her to his home and provides for her com-
fort, and who also entertains her rescuer in a very hospit-
able manner. The latter introduces himself as Loma, a citizen
of Venus, who has been sent to the earth for the express pur-
pose of impressing Myrtle, and through her, her offspring, with
the germs of new thought, representing an advanced civiliza-
tion which her son is destined to proclaim to the world. The
physician enters heartily into the scheme, and the remaining
chapters of the book tell how Loma accomplished his mission.
The work is pathetic, romantic, revolutionary and startling,
and there is a sensation in every chapter. The denouement is
sublime.

Incidentally, Loma makes the following remarkable scien-
tific disclosures: That the wearing of clothing is a mistake,
and productive of disease. That physical astronomy as now
taught is radically wrong in its principles and statements.
That Sir Isaac Newton's theory of the law of gravitation is a
mistake. That matter does not attract matter, and that the
sun does not radiate light or heat.

Loma's views on the prevailing vices, inconsistencies and
absurdities of modern civilization are expressed in Professor
Windsor's masterful literary style, and the utterances are
characterized by the same fearlessness and freedom of expres-
sion which are such marked peculiarities of his lectures, ad-
dresses and other published works.

This extraordinary book consists of about five hundred
pages, handsomely printed and bound in silk cloth, with gold
«tle. Price, $1.50.

(4)

Do You Wish to Understand

Yourself and Everbodv Else? How to Become Rich?
How to Select a Wife? How to Become Comfort-
able, Happy and Prosperous? If you do you
should purchase and read

Phrenology! Choice of Professions; Matrimony,

A handsome little volume of 200 pages, containing the full
text of Professor Windsor's three most popular lectures as de-
livered by him to overwhelming audiences throughout the
United States.

In addition to the three lectures the hook contains a nun>
ber of interviews in which Professor Windsor describes phre-
nologieally the mental characteristics of many prominent
statesmen, philanthropists and criminals, in which startling
contrasts and sensational facts are developed. Elegantly illus-
trated, with portraits of noted characters. Professor Windsor
is acknowledged to he the highest living authority on the sub-
ject of which he treats. The entire book is Scientific, Witty,
instructive and Absorbingly Interesting. Price., in cloth, $1.00.
Price, in paper, 50 cents.

HEALTH, WEALTH, AMD SUNSHIME,

— OB THE —

SECRET OF A GOOD DIGESTION.

This valuable little pamphlet is one of Professor Windsor's
greatest contributions to the relief of suffering humanity. It
contains full instructions in regard to the Philosophy of Diges-
tion, the causes of Indigestion and Constipation, the correct
bill of fare for Proper Diet for each Temperament, and in-
structions for the radical cure of Indigestion and Chronic Con-
stipation, without medicine or expense, enabling anyone to
regulate the bowels perfectly without the use of poisonous
cathartics. PRICE, $1.00. Sold only as a confidential com-
munication and upon promise by the purchaser that its in-
structions will be confined to the members of the purchaser's
own familv.

NERVOUSNESS.

Its Cause and Cure. How to Banish the Blues.

A valuable pamphlet by Professor Windsor, giving direc-
tions by which three-fourths of all cases of nervousness may
be cured without, medicine. The cure of Insomnia, with valu-
able instruction for inducing dreamless sleep. Also, sugges-
tions for obtaining rest without sleep when time is limited.
Invaluable for overworked business men and nervous women.
Price, 50 cents.

(5)

Great Secrets of Happiness.

In 1888 Professor Windsor published the first edition of
What was then called his GREAT SEXUAL SECRETS, con-
sisting of four small pamphlets, the largest of which con-
tained eight pages. They were sold as confidential communi-
cations from a teacher to his pupils and were never intended
for general sale. The first was a treatise on Pregnancy, con-
taining some valuable facts which every prospective wife
and mother should know; the second was a brief instruction
on the restoration of sexual vigor by hygienic treatment; the
third gave valuable sanitary advice designed to prevent the
spread of contagious venereal disease; and the fourth and
largest of the series was a plain and chaste direction as to
the proper method of performing the act of copulation.

The sale of these pamphlets was remarkably large, not-
withstanding the fact that they were sold at ten dollars apiece
for Nos. 3, 4 and 5, and fifteen dollars for No. 1. The entire
series was sold for fifty dollars, including a phrenological
chart, which was at that time issued for ten dollars.

A second and enlarged edition was published in 1891,
which has just been exhausted. The great favor with which
these works have been received results from their brevity

and TRUTHFULNESS.

Most writers in treating such subjects would have buried
the information beneath a mass of verbiage. There are hun-
dreds of books upon the market treating of these subjects,
but the reader turns from most of them with a sense of dis-
gust because so much has been written and so little has been
said.

Professor Windsor has had the good judgment and the
courage to write the truth. He has realized that the average
man wants facts and not arguments on propositions of ques-
tionable value. Hundreds of men have remarked, after hear-
ing Professor Windsor lecture on these topics, that in some
way he had come into possession of a vast amount of truth
upon subjects upon which there is general and much to be
deplored ignorance.

The third edition of these valuable pamphlets is now ready.
In view of the fact that since the last edition was published,
Professor Windsor has made extraordinary new and startling
discoveries, it has been necessary to rewrite the whole series.

(6)

While all that was valuable in the old editions has been care-
fully preserved, yet the pamphlets as now issued are prac-
tically new works, entirely rewritten, up to date, and contain
about four times as much information as the last edition. For
this reason it has been thought best to give the new series a
new and more attractive title. Pi-ofessor Windsor's

GREAT SECRETS OF HAPPINESS.

are now absolutely indispensable to the happiness of every
man and woman in the world. In fact it may be safely said
that without the information contained in Nos. 1 and 4 it is
impossible to be happy in the marriage relation. The informa-
tion contained in Nos. 2 and 3 is vitally important to every
young man contemplating matrimony, and it is hardly safe for
any young woman to entertain the proposition of marriage
without the same information, while No. 5 is indispensable to
every sane man or woman who wishes to preserve the happi-
ness of married life. This pamphlet is a new and valuable
addition to the series.

The world is full of blasted homes, broken hearts, and
wrecked constitutions caused by ignorance of the facts set
forth in these pamphlets. The prisons are full of criminals
and the insane asylums are crowded, because men and women
do not understand the true laws of parentage. Idiots, paupers
and cripples on every hand, tell the sad story of parental
ignorance. Nor is this the worst side of the question. Thou-
sands of good and true men and women are yearly infected
with the most loathsome and contagious diseases because the
truth is not known in respect to these unhappy subjects.
There is a maudlin sentiment extant which deprecates any
effort to impart information on these topics. These sickly
moralists seem to think that it is a lofty work to protect a
community from smallpox white it is a moral obliquity to sug-
gest sanitary precautions against, a much more terrible form
of disease. Both diseases result from the same cause, un-
cleanliness, under but slightly varying conditions.

One of the most fearful evils in existence to-day is the
presence in every large city and in many smaller ones, of un-
scrupulous quacks who pose as physicians and prey upon the
morbid sensibilities of uninstructed young men. It is the busi-
ness of these human vultures to persuade young men that they arc
afflicted with disease when no such condition exists. Nearly
every newspaper in the country is filled with the artfully

(7)

worded advertisements of these unconscionable scoundrels.
Professor Windsor has learned byactual professional experience
that nearly fifty per cent of the young men he addresses in
lectures on these subjects are in some form the victims of this
kind of quackery.

The crime of abortion is frightfully on the increase, and
will continue to disgrace society and the practice of the med-
ical profession until greater intelligence prevails.

Men will not restrain their passions while the government
fosters conditions which inflame and brutalize them. As long
as money rules the world, intemperance will abound and
women will be sacrificed to prostitution. There is no hope for
a better condition of affairs uutil intelligence concerning the
proper use of the sexual powers is widely disseminated.

With the earnest hope of teaching some men and women
the true road to happiness, these pamphlets were first issued,
and the last edition is sent forth in the same spirit. Each one
of the series is aimed at some great evil in society, and while
it condemns the wrong it teaches the right way.

Just a word in regard to the price. Under existing condi-
tions in society everything is measured in money values.
These pamphets are sold at ten dollars each because they are
worth it. The law of supply and demand must regulate here
as elsewhere. No. 1 contains information which can be turned
to practical account by any stock raiser to the extent of hun-
dreds of dollars per annum. No. 2 is a godsend to the young
men of the country and saves thousands of dollars from the
rapacious pockets of the quacks, besides giving peace of mind
and happiness to hundreds of young men who have been tor-
tured with self-created fears. No. 3 is invaluable to every
married man and woman who believes in cleanliness and who
wishes to preserve good health and to transmit it unimpaired
to offspring. No. 4 is probably the most popular of the series,
and gives instruction which has brought happiness into many
an otherwise clouded home, prevented hundreds of divorces
and cured, without medicines or expense, embarrassments
which have baffled the best of physicians and which were re-
garded as the results of disease, until this invaluable informa-
tion showed that they were simply the fruits of ignorance.
No. 5 will teach you how to preserve your domestic happiness
after you have obtained it.

If you wish to be happy become well informed. Learn the
truth and "the truth shall make you free."

8)

Great Secrets of Happiness.

No. 1.

PERFECT OFFSPRING.

HOW THEY MAY BE CREATED, AND THE
REGULATION OF SEX.

»A short treatise on pregnancy, showing the conditions
which cause perfection or degeneracy in offspring. How great-
ness is transmitted, the law of inheritance from father and
mother and the causes which produce idiots, paupers and
criminals. The information is condensed into a few pages of
short, terse rules which anyone can commit to memory, and
when followed the results are sure to hring the greatest hap-
piness to prospective parents.

This pamphlet teaches the enormity of the crime of abor-
tion, and is designed to awaken the public conscience in a
matter which is threatening the very life of the nation. It
clearly shows that this crime, like all others, grows out of
ignorance, and is all the more to be deplored because it is
wholly unnecessary-
It also gives full instructions for regulating the sex of
offspring, enabling parents to produce a son or daughter at
will. The same principle can be applied to animals by stock
raisers, and full and complete directions are given for the vari-
ous classes of animals, together with valuable suggestions in
the application of the doctrine of impressions to animals, en-
abling stock raisers to produce greater speed in horses, greater
productiveness in cows, sheep, poultry, etc.. etc.

Parents should place it in the hands of marriageable
daughters at least one year before marriage. It makes the
procreation of superb offspring a possibility, reducing the
number of idiots, paupers, criminals and invalids caused by
ignorance of the laws of Nature. It sheds a flood of light on
all these questions of such vital importance to women in par-
ticular and the i*ace at large.

PRICE, TEN DOLLARS.
(9)

Great Secrets of Happiness.

No. 2.

MANHOOD RESTORED

OR THE

CURE OF NERVOUS WEAKNESS WITHOUT*
MEDICINES OR EXPENSE.

The object of this pamphlet is to place in the hands of
every young man who may be suffering from the effects of
early indiscretions, or who may have been led to believe that
he is diseased when he is not, a simple, clear exposition of the
truth.

If weakness actually exists, the proper way to treat it is
by the hygienic method and not by stimulants or nauseating
drugs.

This pamphlet contains a clear exposition of the causes
and conditions which destroy sexual vigor. It exposes a great
many tricks of the quacks, by which they extort money from
their victims. It explains the true nature and causes of nerv-
ous debility, loss of memory, involuntary losses, etc., and gives
simple and plain directions for a cure without medicines or
expense.

The efficacy of this treatment is attested by hundreds of
grateful patients in all parts of the world. It is not only valu-
able to the afflicted, but will prove a priceless boon to all men
and women of every age and condition. Young men and
women suffering from Nervous Prostration, Impotency, Loss
of Sleep, Loss of Memory, Depression of Spirits, Varicocele
and all kindred difficulties, will find in this instruction the
priceless information which will enable them to restore health
and become useful members of society and fit candidates for
the sacred obligation of matrimony.

PRICE, TEN DOLLARS.
(10)

Great Secrets of Happiness.

No. 3.

CONNUBIAL CLEANLINESS

OR THE

CAUSE AND CURE OF VENEREAL DISEASES.

The alarming prevalence of the worst forms of venereal
diseases is a matter of the greatest concern to society. The
awful effects of these diseases are not confined to the un-
happy violators of the laws, of nature, but extend "even unto
the third and fourth generation" of innocent offspring. Inno-
cent men and women are often contaminated because of igno-
rance of the conditions of contagion. Diseases of this nature
are frequently originated by innocent men and women who
are ignorant of the conditions which produce disease.

This pamphlet contains clear and simple directions for the
production of the highest form of sanitary conditions in the
sexual relations. It explains the origin and cause of conta-
gious conditions and how to avoid them.

It also contains the best and most effective prescriptions
for the cure of these forms of disease.

The most advanced physicians and scientists now recognize
the fact that the most effective treatment for these unhappy
conditions consists in strict attention to cleanliness and the
renovation of the tissues of the body by hygienic treatment.
Drugs and mineral poisons are worse than useless, and the
evil effects of mercury, which is so often ignorantly and copi-
ously administered, are worse than the original disease. The
treatment recommended in this pamphlet contains the most
valuable features of the methods employed at the famous
Hot Springs of Arkansas, and may be successfully applied at
home, without inconvenience or expense.

PRICE, TEN DOLLARS.

(ID

Great Secrets of Happiness.

No. 4.

HOW TO BE HAPPY.

A TREATISE ON THE EMBARRASSMENTS OF
WEDLOCK AND THEIR REMOVAL.

This pamphlet is Professor Windsor's masterpiece, and has
carried more happiness to more persons than any information
which has ever flowed from his facile and courageous pen.
In this instruction he has considered the act of copulation
from a strictly scientific and utilitarian standpoint, and has
shown that the reason why so many people are unhappy in the
marriage relation is because they are ignorant and unin-
structed in the performance of the highest of life's great func-
tions.

If reproduction is the highest privilege of mankind, as it
surely is, then certainly as much attention should be paid to
the intelligent study of the act of reproduction as to any sub-
ject within the intellectual grasp of mankind. Yet, strange to
say, this pamphlet is the only book ever written in which an
attempt has been successfully made to explain the scientific
conditions underlying the physical details.

The instruction herein given is based upon three cardinal
propositions, to-wit:

1. That reproduction should only be performed by those
who are capable of producing the best possible offspring.

2. That the perfection of offspring is always in exact pro-
portion to the pleasure experienced by the parents in produc-
ing it.

3. That the act of copulation is designed not only for the
reproduction of offspring, but also for the fortification and re-
production of the powers of the participants.

Following this line of argument, this pamphlet shows:

(12)

1. The conditions essential to perfect reproduction.

2. The conditions essential to the highest development of
enjoyment.

3. The evils attendant upon excessive, unnatural aud im
moral uses of the sexual functions.

4. The benefits derived from the correct use of these pow-
ers in the perfection of offspring, the enjoyment of the sexual
relations and the development of self-control.

5. The full explanation of Professor Windsor's extraor-
dinary doctrine that by the proper employment of the sexual
relations every organ of the brain ean he enlarged and strength-
ened and all forms of diseases ean be cured. This is the most
startling and revolutionary of all his doctrines, but one which
is demonstrably true.

This pamphlet, perhaps more than any of the scries, con-
tains information of priceless rnlue— information absolutely nec-
essary to all who would obtain happiness in the marriage re-
lation, perfect health of husband and wife, mutual enjoyment
and superb offspring. Every young man or woman contem-
plating matrimony, all married persons and parents who have
the welfare of their children at heart must obtain this knowl-
edge. Thousands of homes are blasted annually through sex-
ual ignorance; thousands of idiots, paupers, criminals and de-
formities are born annually through violation of the laws of
nature, expounded in this instruction. Debilitated wives and
mothers endure the pains of martyrdom, through ignorance of
simple facts now for the first time placed within reach. Whole
armies of young men are driven to desperation and many to
insanity and suicide through Sexual Diseases resulting from
imprudence and ignorance of the consequences of violating
Nature's Sexual Laws.

PRICE, TEN DOLLARS.

i 13)

Great Secrets of Happiness.

No. 5.

THE PRINCIPLES OF HARMONY

APPLIED TO THE SELECTION OF
SEXUAL CONSORTS.

This pamphlet contains a clear exposition of the laws of
nature governing the selection of companions for life. It
shows what temperaments are adapted to each other, and
what are discordant, and the reason why. It explains the
great laws of electro-magnetic affinity, the relation of the
anatomical temperaments and the laws of chemical affinity as
expressed in human organization. It also gives directions for
the detection of organic sexual weakness in either sex and
the signs of complete manhood and womanhood. It is the de-
sign of this pamphlet to instruct every young man and woman
in the principles that underlie the conditions of happiness in
the marriage relation, so that no mistake will be made in the
selection of a companion for life. It shows:

1. How to judge what temperament is suitable to your
own.

2. How to test the possibility of love and enjoyment of
companionship.

3. How to avoid those who are unfitted for matrimony
by disease or organic incompleteness.

4. How to conduct a magnetic courtship.

5. How to preserve the harmonies when they have been
secured.

6. Causes and cure of jealousy.

7. The true philosophy of divorce, showing for what rea-
sons and how a marriage should be terminated, and the be-
havior of the parties after divorce.

PRICE, TEN DOLLARS.

(14)

HOW TO OBTAIN PROFESSOR WINDSOR'S
GREAT SECRETS OF HAPPINESS.

The confidential nature of the information imparted in
these pamphlets, together with the fact that they represent
the accumulated experience of a life devoted to the investiga-
tion of the subject, which has cost the author thousands of
dollars as well as almost incredible labor and self-sacrifice,
precludes the possibility of a general and indiscriminate sale.
The information is of such a character that it will not be de-
manded except by those who are sufficiently advanced to rec-
ognize its importance, and the author does not care to place
the information in the hands of those who will abuse it.
Those who earnestly desire the advancement, of the human
race and themselves, will be willing to comply with the condi-
tions of sale, which are as follows:

Carefully copy the following obligation of non-disclosure,
sign it and forward, with the price of the pamphlet desired,
to the Windsor & Lewis Publishing Co., 406 Maria avenue,
St. Paul, Minn. Do not cut or mutilate this page.

,18.

In consideration of receiving Professor Windsor's Great
Secrets of Happiness, I hereby promise not to reveal the same
to any person, under any circumstances, except as hereinafter
stated, but to keep the said pamphlets for my own personal
use, free from the observation of others.

This pledge, however, permits a husband or wife to reveal
the said information to the consort, aud permits parents to
instruct their children, in all cases, however, previously ex-
acting a promise from the person so instructed to observe the
same pledge. It does not extend to brothers, sisters or other
relatives, or to business partners, or to any person not spe-
cifically allowed as above.
Signed,

On receipt of the above pledge, properly signed with your
name and address, and the price of the pamphlets ordered they
will be sent to you in a plain envelope, securely sealed from
observation. Be sure you designate the pamphlets you desire.
both by number and title, so there will be no mistake in filling
your order.

(15)

THE INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE OF SCIENCE

(Incorporated 1897.)
BOARD OP DIRECTORS,

WILLIAM WINDSOR, LL. B., PH. D.; T. H LEWIS.
WM. H. GROSS.

FACULTY.

WILLIAM WINDSOR, LL. B., PH. D., President,
Professor of Phrenology, Anthropology. Hypnotism and Social

Science.

T. H. LEWIS, Vice President,

Professor of Archaeology, Ethnology and Natural History.

L. W. ROBERTS,

Professor of Astrology.

FRANK J. JUNGEN,

Professor of Phrenology, Hygiene and Dietetics.

ALFRED B. WESTRUP.

Professor of Political Economy.

M. M. BURNHAM, Secretary.

BUSINESS MANAGERS,

THE WINDSOR & LEWIS PUBLISHING CO.,
406 Maria Ave., St. Paul, Minn.

This college is incorporated under the laws of the State of
Minnesota, for the purpose of conducting courses of instruction
under competent, teachers in all branches of science, by new
and improved methods, especially by courses of lectures
delivered at the college by the best talent obtainable, and
also by special courses of lectures and instruction delivered in
all parts of the United States by missionaries sent out by the
college for the purpose. With this college as a center, it is
proposed to inaugurate a complete system of instruction, which
shall extend al over the world, by the organization of asso-
ciations, classes and special courses of lectures, arranged to
cover the most desirable forms of instruction upon topics of
the greatest value.

Correspondence courses of instruction in such branches
as admit of the method will be inaugurated, by means of
which persons in any part of the world may obtain the
instruction of masters of the various subjects at minimum
cost.

Degrees, emoluments and certificates of merit are con-
ferred in recognition of work actually accomplished by
students.

For further particulars address the business managers,
THE WINDSOR & LEWIS PUBLISHING CO.,

406 Maria Ave., St. Paul. Minn.

(16)

Forms and Prices of Phrenological Ex=

aminations, Charts and Phrenographs

Given by Professor Windsor.

i.

An Oral Examination consists of a careful measurement
and estimate of the mental and physical powers of the appli-
cant, by the examiner, who will explain:

1. The Physical Condition and General State of Health.

2. The Mental Development and Peculiarities of Char-
acter.

3. Suggestions as to Faults and how to correct them,
Talents and how to improve them.

4. The Best Business, Profession or Vocation to which
the applicant is adapted, also suggestions of desirable studies
to be pursued.

In the case of children, this form also includes advice as
to Culture (Physical and Mental), and the best methods to be
pursued in government and discipline. This form is wholly
verbal and does not include any written memoranda. Price,
Two Dollars and Fifty Cents.

II.

A Business Chart is a written statement upon a form
prepared for the purpose, giving all the above information in
such form as can be preserved for future reference. It also
contains an estimate of the Temperament and Organic Quality
and such notes and explanations of technical terms as will
enable the applicant to understand it thoroughly when prop-
erly studied. The Business Chart includes—

1. A statement of the characteristics of the applicant, his
Faults and Virtues.

2. A memoranda of his Best Business. Profession or Vo-
cation.

3. A memoranda of Studies Recommended.

4. Rules for the development of all the Phrenological Or-
gans of the Brain and for the Preservation of Health, care-
fully marked with reference to the culture desirable for the
person examined. Price, Five Dollars.

(17)

III.

The Complete Phrenological Chart and Written De-
lineation of Character, contains:

1. A careful estimate of the Physiological Condition, Tem-
perament, Organic Quality and Phrenological Development of
the applicant.

2. An analysis of his Business Capacity and Adaptability,
with full directions for the choice of a Trade, Profession or
Occupation.

3. A complete Physiological and Phrenological Description
of the person adapted to the applicant for Matrimony or Busi-
ness Partnership.

4. Memoranda of Desirable Studies and Branches of Edu-
cation.

5. A complete Digest of Rules for the development of all
the Phrenological Organs of the Brain, and Preservation of
Health, carefully marked with reference to the Culture desir-
able for the applicant. Price, Ten Dollars.

This is a very desirable form of Examination and is de-
signed to convey all the necessary information. This was the
most complete chart given previous to the invention of the
Phrenometer.

The foregoing forms are estimative. That is to say, the
statements contained in each are the conclusions drawn from
the estimates made by the skillful examiner, whose long prac-
tice enables him to tell with great accuracy, the essential ele-
ments of the character from the inspection of the head. A
strictly scientific and mathematically exact result may be ob-
tained, however, by the use of the Phrenometer, an instru-
ment invented and patented by Professor Windsor. By the
use of this instrument, the exact dimensions of the head are
shown upon charts prepared for the purpose, in five sections.
The results attained by this method are extremely satisfactory.
The exact development of the head in all its parts is shown,
enabling the examiner to perform his work with mathematical
accuracy and revealing for the first time to the applicant the
true form of his head. The strong and weak developments are
shown with such fidelity to nature as to make a great impres-
sion upon the person examined. If the head is handsome in
outline and well developed, it is one of the most powerful in-
centives to ambition and culture to see it, as displayed on the

(18)

Phrettometer charts. If there is any weakness or deformity
the Phrenologist immediately suggests the remedy, and
teaches how to overcome it. The measurements can be pre-
served and compared with those taken at later dates, show-
ing exactly how much has been accomplished in the Interval
by way of culture, and in just whal direction the character is
developing.

IV.

A Complete Phrenological Chart and Written De-
lineation of Character, with Phrenometer Measure-
ments, includes all the information given under the third form,
with the addition of the Phrenometer measurements and full
explanations in an attractive form to be preserved for future
reference. Price. Fifteen Dollars.

V.

A Phrenograph is a written statement of special advice,
written out at length by the examiner, or copied on the type-
writer. A Threnograph usually consists of about one thousand
words, which may be extended to such, length as the exigencies
of the case require. The charges for Phreuographs are in all
cases regulated by the nature of the case, the value of the
information imparted and the number of words required to
convey the meaning of the examiner. The usual charges range
from FIVE to TEN DOLLARS.

It is desirable that everyone who can afford to do so should
take a Complete Phrenological Chart and Written De-
lineation of Character with Phrenometer Measure-
ments, and a Phrenograph relating at least to the subjects of
Health, Character, Adaptation in Business and Matrimony,
all of which usually cost Twenty-five Dollars. This enables
the examiner to discuss every subject for the applicant which
is of the highest importance. The examination and Phreuo-
graphs. however, can be indefinitely extended to the profit of
the applicant, for it is practically impossible to exhaust the
subject.

The Best Time to be Examined is right now. Every day
that you postpone your examination you are losing the bene-

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fits which Phrenology confers. Mr. W. A. Harris of Fort
Worth, Texas, examined by Professor Windsor in 1890, re-
ported two hundred dollars profit in two days, and many sim-
ilar cases could be mentioned.

The Best Age at which to be Examined is as early as
possible. Parents, do not wait until your children develop be-
fore having them examined, but bring them to the Phrenologist
and learn how to develop them.

The younger the child, the greater the benefits of an ex-
amination. Remember that the Phrenological Examination is
purely educational, and the earlier its suggestions are applied
the better

DISCOUNTS TO CLUBS.

The following table shows the discounts made to clubs of
five or more persons. To obain these prices, in all cases the
list of names must be made up and money paid in advance to
the examiner. Members of clubs may then take their examina-
tions at their convenience.

Single Club of Club of Club of
Examination. Fire. Ten. Twenty-

Oral Examination $2.50 $2.00 $2.00 $1.50

Business Chart 5.00 4.00 3.50 3.00

Complete Phren. Chart and
Written Delineation of Char-
acter 10.00 8.00 7.50 7.00

Complete Phren. Chart and
Written Delineation of Char-
acter, with Phrenometer
Measurements 15.00 12.50 11.00 10.00

E^All correspondence upon the subject of Phrenological
Examinations should be addressed to

PROF. WM. WINDSOR, LL. B., Ph. D.,

Care Windsor & Lewis Publishing Co.,
406 Maria Ave, St. Paul, Minn.
Marked "Personal."

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EXAMINATIONS FROM PHOTOGRAPHS.

Phrenological examinations can be made from photographs
with accuracy, provided the photograph is a correct likeness,
and some additional information can be supplied. Owing to
obvious difficulties, absolute correctness cannot be guaranteed,
but the results are sufficiently valuable to justify the expedient
wherever it is impossible to submit the living head.

To obtain satisfactory 'results the photograph should bo
cabinet size, and should show the form of the head and face
as plainly as possible. Very little can be told from a photo-
graph when a hat is worn, or when the personality is covered
with millinery, wigs, bangs, uniforms, etc. etc.

A plaiu photograph, showing a three-quarter view of the
face, is best. Front views and profiles are valuable for some
points and worthless for others. When it is possible, a three-
quarter view, front and profile may all be submitted with good
results.

The forms of examinations and charts from photographs
and prices charged for the service are the same as for the liv-
ing subject, except that the Phrenometer measurements can-
not be given from a photograph, and an oral examination can-
not be given by mail. Forms II and III and Phrenographs
are entirely practicable and very valuabe.

Opinions on the Adapation in Business. Partnership or
Matrimony are given at the following rates: Short opinion,
two dollars; elaborate opinion, ten dollars. (This gives all
minute points requiring usually one thousand words.) In all
cases submit photos of both candidates.

Persons who have already been examined by me and who
hold certificates for Forms II, III or IV, may have opinions
on Business Partnership or Matrimony at one dollar for short
opinion, and five dollars for the elaborate form,

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INFORMATION REQUIRED.

Take the following measure-
ments of the head: Pass a tape
measure around the circumfer-
ence of the base of the brain,
passing just above the eyebrows
and just above the ears. This
is called the basilar circumference.
Also measure the distance from
the bottom of the orifice of one
ear to the corresponding point of

the other, over the top of the head at the highest point. This

is called the trans-coronal measurement. Then copy and fill

out the following blank, and submit with the photograph:
c^Do not cut or mutilate this page.

Name of original of photo

Address

Age Weight Height

Sex Color of hair Color of eyes

Basilar circumference of head inches.

Trans-coronal measui'ement inches.

Circumference of chest, lungs empty inches.

Circumference of chest, lungs filled inches.

Condition of health

Amount of education received.

Present occupation

Information 'most especially desired.

Number of photographs enclosed

To be returned to

(Write return address plainly.)

Form of examination requested

Fee enclosed, $ Stamps enclosed for return

When all the above points can be stated it is desirable that
it should be done. When it is impossible to do so, the blanks
may be filled out in part, and I will in all cases do the best that
can be done with information at hand. Address all corre-
spondence on this subject to s^ ,.<A
PROF. WILLIAM WINDSOR, LL. B., Ph. P..
Care The Windsor & Lewis Publishing Co.,

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406 Maria Ave., St. Paul, Minn.